A new headspace site to be located in Lilydale has started offering initial services via phone and online in an effort to fast-track support to young people in the community ahead of the full site opening for in person services in the first half of 2021.
headspace Lilydale is operated by EACH and will run as a satellite service from headspace Knox. Funded by the Australian Government, headspace Lilydale has been established with the support of a local Youth Reference Group and Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (EMPHN).
headspace Lilydale will support young people aged 12 to 25 years to access youth-oriented mental health professionals, general practitioners, drug and alcohol counsellors, and support access to vocational and social service providers.
Federal Member for Casey, Tony Smith MP, welcomed the opportunity for young people to seek support.
“Early intervention is key to mental health recovery and with so much of our lives now virtual I anticipate young people in the Yarra Ranges community will embrace this new service.”
“The Australian Government has invested in a number of services for the Yarra Ranges community with headspace Lilydale joining the Integrated Youth Health Hub in Lilydale, and the HeadtoHelp service in Yarra Junction, to support people in the community experiencing mental and/or physical ill health and needing educational, employment or other social supports,” he said.
Yarra Ranges Council Mayor, Cr Fiona McAllister, said young people are facing significant uncertainty and disruption due to the pandemic, particularly around their employment and education.
“I encourage them to seek help from headspace Lilydale if they are not feeling okay.
“I look forward to the opening of the satellite site to provide accessible and suitable services for local young people,” she said.
EMPHN CEO, Janine Wilson, said the headspace Lilydale satellite helps meet the need for these services for young people in Melbourne’s outer-east.
“Boosting mental health services through a headspace satellite in 2021 aims to help young people in the Yarra Ranges and surrounding areas get support for mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, and social and emotional wellbeing,” she said.
EACH CEO, Peter Ruzyla, said the service has been designed in consultation with the Youth Representative Group comprising local young people and representatives from headspace Knox to develop a service where they feel welcome no matter their identity.
“We’re committed to building on the success of headspace Knox and helping young people navigate mental health and wellbeing challenges by developing tools to take them through early adulthood and beyond,” he said.
Young people in the community that prefer to access support in person prior to the opening of headspace Lilydale are encouraged to get in touch with headspace Knox to make an appointment.
To make an appointment with headspace Lilydale:
Call: 9801 6088
Email: info@headspaceknox.com.au
Appointments are held via phone or telehealth, or at the Knox location.
headspace Lilydale is funded by the Australian Government under the PHN program.