Greg Hunt MP
Minister for Health
MEDIA RELEASE
19 December 2018
$110 million support for young Australians with severe mental illness
The Liberal National Government is providing $110 million so a number of headspace centres
around the country can continue to provide specialist clinical services for young people at the early
stages of severe mental illness.
The two-year funding will go to continue the Early Psychosis Youth Services (EPYS) program at
14 different headspace centres including:
Psychosis is a condition where a person has difficulty in telling apart what is real from what is not.
Psychosis usually appears in late adolescence. It may be triggered by a mental illness such as
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or severe depression. It can also be induced by drug use, or rarely,
by extreme stress.
Symptoms are different for everyone. People may experience one or a range of symptoms including
false beliefs, hallucinations, confused thinking and changed behaviour.
Two-thirds of people who have psychosis experienced their first episode before the age of 25.
It can be difficult to get young people with psychosis to engage with services and they require
consistent and ongoing care and support.
This important program aims to reduce the incidence and impact of psychosis within the community
through prevention, early detection, and coordinated care delivery.
A significant focus of the program is on functional recovery which focuses on a young person’s re-
engagement in education and employment, leading to better long term outcomes.
Intervention early in life and at an early stage of illness can reduce the duration and impact of
mental illness.
This funding is on top of the our Government’s investment recent $51.8 million funding boost
for headspace centres.
The Liberal National Government is prioritising better mental health for all Australians $4.7 billion
expected to be spent on mental health this financial year.
Our Government’s strong economic management ensures we continue to invest record amounts of
funding into vital health initiatives including mental health, life-saving medicines, Medicare and
hospitals.
(ENDS)