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Good service design can make a real difference to outcomes for young people. Share your perspective on the draft models of care.
Date published:
From the CEO, David McGrath
Too many young people are navigating complex and escalating mental health challenges without access to the right level of support. Improving how we deliver care is critical to ensuring they receive the help they need.
New models of care for youth services are being developed. These include headspace Plus and Youth Specialist Care Centres (YSCCs), designed by headspace National and Orygen on behalf of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (the Department).
The National Mental Health Commission (the Commission) supports these new services. They aim to fill a critical gap for young people whose needs are more complex or serious than what current services can easily support.
Clearly defined models of care help everyone to understand how these new services will work, who they’re for, and what kind of support they will provide. Based on the proposed model of care, these new services will deliver important multi-disciplinary care, accommodating both clinical and non-clinical approaches, providing more holistic care to young people.
The draft new models of care for youth services are now open for consultation. The Department is seeking feedback to help shape the models.
The new models of care
headspace Plus will build on the well-known headspace model, offering a broader range of supports. This includes specialised and holistic care for young people who need a higher level of support.
YSCCs will build on the existing Early Psychosis Youth Services. They will support young people with severe or emerging mental health conditions - those whose needs are too complex for primary care, but who do not need hospital-based treatment. They will provide longer-term, team-based care for young people with complex conditions such as psychosis, eating disorders, personality disorder, and severe mood and anxiety disorders.
Development process
The Youth Severe Mental Health Service Integration Working Group and the Youth Mental Health Models of Care Expert Advisory Group have informed the development of the current draft models of care. The Commission has contributed feedback throughout the consultation process, focusing on how services can be as effective and practical as possible.
A key priority for us has been making sure these new services are well integrated. We don’t want to see further fragmentation or duplication across the mental health system.
For these services to work well, they need to:
centre around the individual
connect with other services, including outside of the mental health system
allow flexibility to respond to local community needs.
Strong data sharing and communication practices will also be critical to ensure timely access and service delivery.
Get involved and share your views
The draft models of care for headspace Plus and YSCCs are now open for public consultation, and this is an important opportunity to help shape how these services will work.
The Department is seeking feedback on:
target population
minimum service requirements
flexibility to allow for local implementation
workforce required to adequately deliver these models of care
pathways into and out of services delivering these models of care
safety and quality considerations
integration with existing mental health and other relevant services.
The Commission acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters on which we live, work and learn.
Diversity
The Commission is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of health services. The Commission welcomes all people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Lived Experience
We acknowledge the individual and collective contributions of those with a lived and living experience of mental ill-health and suicide, and those who love, have loved and care for them. Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to mental health suicide prevention systems reform.
