New services for young Tasmanians with mental illness were announced today as part of an
Australian Government initiative to improve child and adolescent mental health care.
Primary Health Tasmania general manager Mark Broxton said Cornerstone Youth Services and
Life Without Barriers would support 12 to 25-year-olds with or at risk of complex and severe
mental illness.
Cornerstone Youth Services will support young people in the north and north west and Life
Without Barriers in the south.
Tasmania is one of three Primary Health Networks which received funding to trial new models
of care for young people with, or at risk of, developing complex and severe mental illness.
Mr Broxton said consultation with mental health service providers, carers and consumers had
highlighted priorities for improving the mental health and wellbeing of young people and the
people who support them. They included addressing the stigma around mental health, raising
awareness of available treatments and services, and improving access to care and support.
“When we looked at the availability of services and the barriers this group of young people face
in getting the care they need, we found a significant proportion can’t access appropriate
services when and where they need them,” he said.
“There is a particular service gap for young people who aren’t eligible to access services
supporting the most severe forms of mental illness, but whose needs aren’t being met by
existing services for people with mild to moderate illness.
“Cornerstone Youth Services and Life Without Barriers will help bridge this service gap.”
They will coordinate and deliver community-based services to ensure young people with
complex and severe mental illness receive customised psychological care so they have fewer
setbacks and challenges in their recovery.
The services will also work to streamline referral pathways wherever possible.
They will work closely with other mental health care providers who deliver services through the
Tasmanian Health Service, general practices, community organisations and private psychology
services.
Mr Broxton said Cornerstone Youth Services and Life Without Barriers were already working
with young people in a range of social and mental health support roles and would seek to put
them in touch with other health services they might need.
“Primary Health Tasmania will be working closely with these organisations to learn how best to
support young people with severe and complex mental illness,” he said.
“We will be reporting back to the Australian Government to inform how services can be
designed and delivered in the most beneficial and cost effective way across Australia in the
future.”
Funding has been provided to June 2018, with new services expected to commence later this
month. Further contracts will be subject to ongoing Australian Government funding and proof
that program objectives are being met.
More information is available on the Primary Health Tasmania website at
www.primaryhealthtas.com.au/services-young-people-severe-complex-mental-illness
Jenny Denholm Manager – Communications and Marketing
