Headspace Horsham will be involved in a new mental health program in schools as part of a partnership with the state government.
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Minister for Education James Merlino said headspace centres across Victoria would deliver the $4.48-million mental health components of the government’s Victorian Anti-Bullying and Mental Health Initiative.
Headspace will provide clinical mental health services for students aged 12 to 18 both during and after school hours through Victorian headspace centres and the online eheadspace platform.
The funding will enable headspace to provide additional face-to-face sessions a week, while eheadspace will increase their services for government secondary school students in rural and remote areas.
Headspace Horsham manager Liz Rowe welcomed the funding.
She said she was excited by the prospect of providing more supports to work towards suicide prevention for young people across Victoria.
“We look forward to building on the programs we offer here in Horsham,” she said.
Ms Rowe said headspace Horsham had also changed their operating hours to better cater for school students.
The centre is now open Mondays and Wednesdays from 10am to 6pm and on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9am to 5pm.
Headspace chief executive Jason Trethowan said the partnership with the state government was an opportunity for headspace centres to work with the education sector for the benefit of all young people.
Under the next partnership, headspace will provide additional SAFEMinds training sessions for teachers and student support to help them identify and respond to mental health concerns, particularly depression and anxiety.
Headspace will also deliver its Suicide Risk Training package for school health and wellbeing staff, student support services staff and leading teachers.
Education Minister James Merlino said every child at school deserved to be able to complete their education without being bullied.
“Students need to also be supported when they are battling mental health issues such as anxiety or depression,” he said.