Cade Lucas
Youth mental health is among the biggest challenges facing the nation, both in terms of the numbers needing help and the amount of professionals required to treat them.
Addressing both aspects the problem is aim of the new Orygen Headspace clinic opening at Victoria University’s (VU) Werribee campus later this year.
The VU clinic will provide treatment to young people in Wyndham, while training more mental health professionals required to provide that treatment.
VU Institute for Health and Sport executive director, Professor Alex Parker, said Wyndham was a logical site for the new centre.
“Headspace centres are located in areas of great need with high numbers of young people and VU is really committed to young people in the west of Melbourne” Professor Parker said.
The VU clinic will replace Headspace’s smaller existing facility in Werribee and Professor Parker said it would fit well with the Werribee campus’ existing courses.
“It’s going to give our students involved in our allied health courses such as psychology, nursing, social work, dietetics, nutrition and youth work, quality placements as they’re training in their courses.”
She said the student work placements would boost mental health services in Wyndham even before they graduate.
“These students doing their masters or other professional training can treat young people and increase the amount of support on offer for young people in Wyndham.”
Headspace provides mental health support to people aged 12 to 25 and Professor Parker said the pandemic had caused waiting lists for psychologists and other clinicians blow out by months and even years.
She said the new clinic would help young people at any stage of mental illness.
“From people just noticing some mental health problems through to young people who have diagnosed mental health conditions and need treatment for these.”
The clinic will be run by lead agency Orygen who already operate five Headspace centres in the north and west of Melbourne.
The existing Werribee Headspace clinic will continue operating until the VU facility opens.
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