From the CEO

Welcome to the Winter 2010 edition of our e-Newsletter.

It’s not long now until headspace, in collaboration with our partners, presents the world’s First International Youth Mental Health Conference, Heads Up!, on the 29th-30th July. The conference will address the issues facing young people worldwide with a particular focus on the great work being done in our own backyard at headspace Centres, Orygen Youth Health, and many other organisations who are committed to excellence in this field. We are working tirelessly to make the conference a success, and to elevate Australia as a leader in youth mental health. As part of the conference, I invite all Melbournians to join the 2010 Australian of the Year, Professor Patrick McGorry to take part in a free candid conversation about his passion for the mental and emotional wellbeing of young Australians and how every Australian has a part to play in advocating for youth mental health reform.

We’re also pleased to welcome the announcement in this year’s federal Budget of additional funding for headspace. headspace applauds the government for their ongoing support and commitment to helping us tackle youth mental illness. Youth mental health reform needs constant support from the government to ensure we have the facilities and expertise to provide quality support to the nation’s youth.

So it's a busy time ahead and I like you look forward to welcoming up to 30 new headspace centres. Enjoy reading, and thank-you for your effort and support.

Stay Warm,

Chris Tanti
CEO headspace

 

Invitation: A Conversation with Professor Patrick McGorry

The ABC's James O'Loghlin will join Australian of the Year and mental health reform advocate Professor Patrick McGorry for a candid conversation about his passion for improving the mental health of young Australians.

Professor McGorry will also be joined by a panel of mental health advocates - including Chris Tanti (headspace), Richard Eckersley (Australia 21) and Christine Bennett (Bupa Australia Group) - to discuss the issues facing young Australians and how the community can influence change.

Entertainment for the event will be provided by Stonefield. Stonefield are four sisters - Amy, Hannah, Sarah and Holly Findlay - from Melbourne who are heavily influenced by Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix. The band are the 2010 winners of Triple J's Unearthed High.

A Conversation with Professor Patrick McGorry
Thursday, 29 July, 7.30pm–9.30pm
Plenary Hall 1, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf, Melbourne
Entry is free

Book a free seat or submit a question for the panel to discuss at
https://wsm.com.au/ei/getdemo.ei?id=498&s=_0LW0LXDBB

If you’re not in Melbourne, follow our live feed of the event on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/IYMH_Conference

A Conversation with Professor Patrick McGorry is supported by Bupa Health Foundation
https://www.mbf.com.au/AboutMBF/TheBupaHealthFoundation

Heads Up! The First International Youth Mental Health Conference

headspace is proud to present Heads Up! The First International Youth Mental Health Conference at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 29-30 July 2010.

Convened by Australian of the Year, Professor Patrick McGorry, Heads Up! will present leading national and international approaches to research and evidence-based practice in the area of youth mental health.

The conference will bring together innovators, practitioners, researchers and young people in a forum to showcase the best of youth mental health innovation and key reform strategies.

The program features over 60 presentations on research and development, practice innovation and policy/management.

Key note speakers include Professor Max Birchwood (YouthSpace - UK), Dr Christine Bennett (Bupa Australia Group), Mr Richard Eckersley (Australia 21) and Professor Bob Illback (Headstrong – Ireland).

“I am delighted to invite you to attend the First International Youth Mental Health Conference. This is an important event for Australia and the mental health field.” Professor Patrick McGorry, Conference Convenor, 2010 International Youth Mental Health Conference.

Visit the conference website at
http://www.iymhconference.com.au/

Follow the conference on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/IYMH_Conference

Funding for headspace welcomed

The announcement in the Federal Budget of additional funding for headspace underlines the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling youth mental illness.

The $78.8 million will increase the capacity of the existing 30 headspace centres, which already play a vital role in Australian communities, by extending our services and programs. Up to 30 more new centres will help headspace extend our ground-breaking work into new metropolitan, regional and rural areas that desperately need support.

Earlier this week, Minister Roxon and headspace announced the locations of the first ten centres to be established under the Federal funding. These new centres will be located in Parramatta (Sydney), Shoalhaven, Bendigo, Collingwood (Melbourne), Noarlunga, Inala (Brisbane South), Nundah (Brisbane North), Cairns, Hobart and Perth. These centres will be operational within the next 12 months and will make a difference to the lives of thousands of young people and their families.

The Coalition also recently stated their policy position on mental health: the Real Action Plan for Better Mental Health included $225 million for 60 headspace centres.

headspace dispels myths about mental illness

The headspace Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health publishes the Mythbusters series, which unveil common myths about mental health problems affecting young people.

The latest in the series, Mythbuster: Self-harm, sorts fact from fiction and counters the myths that surround self-harm in young people. The Mythbuster also explores ways that young people who self-harm can be helped and supported.

One persistent myth is that self-harm is “a fashion, trend or an ‘emo’ thing”. In fact, self-harm is not a new behaviour that arrived with a certain subculture amongst young people. A national inquiry into self-harm among young people in the UK found no evidence to suggest it was associated with any particular youth subculture.

Young people who do seek support for their self-harm are most likely to turn to friends or family first. Have a read of the latest Mythbuster to find out how you can help.

Download Mythbuster: Self-harm at:
http://www.headspace.org.au/_uploads/documents/coe/Self-harm_Mythbuster.pdf

Concerned about self-harm? Contact a headspace centre for support: http://www.headspace.org.au/home/headspace-sites/

headspace Barwon Bellarine to be opened

headspace is excited to announce that the third hub of headspace Barwon will open on 6 August.

The third site is auspiced by Bellarine Community Health, a consortium partner of headspace Barwon. The third site will operate in the same clinical path as the Barwon Geelong and Barwon Corio hubs, but will work with the local community to meet local need. Initially the site will operate in a part time capacity, but will expand to meet demand.

headspace Barwon Manager Toni van Hamond said, “The ability to have a third site would not have occurred without a truly whole of Government approach. headspace has received support from the initial headspace grant as well as funding support from the State and Local Government. Many thanks to the fantastic team of Bellarine Community Health in making this dream become a reality.”

Find more information about headspace Barwon at: http://www.headspace.org.au/barwon/

Men’s Health Week 2010

headspace was a proud supporting partner of Men’s Health Week 2010 which took place in June.

During Men’s Health Week, we highlighted the fact that mental health is the single biggest health issue facing young men today. Men are more than twice as likely as women to have drug and alcohol problems. Despite this, young men are less likely than young women to seek help.

headspace Men’s Health Week ambassador Dylan Lewis reminded young men of the importance of seeking help: “men need to start learning how to talk. We’re not very good at talking about feelings, about things that are going wrong. We like to pretend everything fine and if it’s not, we like to keep face. If there’s a problem, address it instead of pretending it’s not there, because addressing it is the first step to getting something done about it.”

headspace held a number of events throughout Men’s Heath Week, including a panel discussion at Western Melbourne headspace with Western Bulldogs Coach Rodney Eade and player Callan Ward and a football clinic with the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville.

Check out a video of the Western Bulldogs event at:
http://www.headspace.org.au/home/my-headspace/news-and-events/news-article/?news=466

Or watch an interview with headspace Men’s Health Week ambassador Dylan Lewis discussing Men’s Health Week 2010 at: http://www.headspace.org.au/home/my-headspace/news-and-events/news-article/?news=465

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