The Peel is a step closer to winning funding for a Headspace facility, after almost 3000 residents signed a petition calling on the federal government to open one of the youth mental health centres in the region.
The petition, which was launched by the Peel Youth Medical Service (PYMS), calls for one of the 10 new Headspace facilities promised by the Liberal government at the 2016 federal election to be installed at the yet-to-be-built PYMS Health Hub.
Canning MP Andrew Hastie said he had been keeping federal health minister Greg Hunt apprised of the campaign.
Mr Hastie said Mr Hunt was encouraged by the support a Headspace had received by the Peel community.
“I’ve been making sure Greg understands there is considerable support within the community for a Headspace to be built in the Peel region,” he said.
“He was very positive and said the petition would carry enormous weight when it came to deciding where the new centres would be located.”
Mr Hastie had been campaigning with PYMS coordinator Eleanor Britton on the petition and had taken out newspaper advertisements in local papers promoting the idea.
“We must let the government know that young people, their families and the community are crying out for help,” he said.
Headspace centres provide care for young people between the ages of 12-25 years in the areas of mental health, related physical health, alcohol and substance abuse as well as social and vocational support.
The government commitment for 10 new Headspace centres would bring the overall total to 110 by 2019 and to increase service coverage to more rural and regional areas.
To sign an online version of the petition go to change.org.
Nathan Hondros
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
