Lifting the weight: Understanding young people’s mental health and service needs in regional and remote Australia

Lifting the weight: Understanding young people’s mental health and service needs in regional and remote Australia Report

• Author(s): Ivancic, L, Cairns, K, Shuttleworth, L., Welland, L, Fildes, J, Nicholas, M
• Published: 2018
• Publisher: ReachOut Australia and Mission Australia

Link to resource Report broken link

Abstract: This report summarises research conducted by ReachOut Australia and Mission Australia on young people living in regional and remote Australia. The aim of the report is to gain a better understanding of young people’s lives, including the benefits and challenges of living in regional and remote areas, the mental health of young people living in these areas, and their service needs. These insights have the potential to improve mental health service design, resulting in better mental health outcomes and a reduction in youth suicide. These findings point to the need for a whole-of-community approach to address the mental health needs of young people living in regional and remote Australia. To achieve this, we need to: • promote the co-design of services with young people, and re-orient services to meet young people’s needs; • empower parents, guardians and peers to provide appropriate support to young people experiencing mental health difficulties; • invest in programs that promote mental health and wellbeing in the early years; • fund and support schools to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people through evidence-based programs; • equip communities and gatekeepers to support the mental health of young people utilise the potential of Primary Health Networks to deliver better mental health outcomes for young people; • harness the potential of digital technologies to improve service availability and accessibility, and to train and resource those who play a key role in helping and supporting young people; and • improve financial supports and offer programs that help young people to transition from education to work, or through different types and levels of education, so that those living in regional and remote areas can achieve their educational, employment and career goals.

• Urls: http://about.au.reachout.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/ReachOut-Australia-Mission-Australia_Lifting-the-Weight-2018.pdf
• Publisher Location: Sydney