CANBERRA, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- More than one million young Australians have received mental health support through headspace centers across the country, the Australian government said on Wednesday.
In a statement marking National headspace Day, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Emma McBride said that more than 9.5 million free appointments had been delivered through 176 headspace centers nationwide.
The government is investing 211.5 million Australian dollars (about 149 million U.S. dollars) to establish, upgrade or expand 56 headspace services, with the national network expected to grow to more than 200 centers once the expansion is completed.
The expansion includes the rollout of headspace Plus centers, which bring together psychologists, social workers, peer workers and counsellors to provide multidisciplinary care for young people with more complex mental health needs.
According to the statement, around two in five young Australians experience mental health challenges each year, while three-quarters of mental health conditions emerge before the age of 25.
McBride said the milestones highlighted the growing demand for youth mental health support and the importance of helping young people access care before their conditions become more serious. ■
