headspace to launch new satellite service in Cessnock
Latest News · 26th May 2020

headspace to launch new satellite service in Cessnock

headspace Maitland is set to launch a new satellite service in the Cessnock area in June, an exciting partnership project coordinated by Samaritans and the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (HNECC PHN).

The new satellite service will open three days per week to provide a range of activities for early intervention support to young people aged between 12 and 25 years who are facing mental health challenges in the region.

“headspace provides an important service to the community, designed for and with young people to help them in their time of need. One in four young Australians aged 16 to 24 experiences mental illness in any given year, and we need to be able to support these young Australians,” HNECC PHN CEO, Richard Nankervis, said.

Samaritans CEO, Brad Webb, said that new service offered a timely response to the growing need to support young people in the community, addressing the increased incidence of mental health concerns, suicide and self-harm.

"More than 75 per cent of mental health issues develop before a person turns 25. Local headspace services are important to help young people to get back on track and strengthen their ability to manage their mental health in the future,” Mr Webb said.

Local headspace services have been instrumental in helping young people to understand and respond to the new challenges posed by COVID-19 and the anxiety around social isolation and health concerns.

“We are currently in the middle of a pandemic and practising self-isolation can lead to stress and anxiety and impact negatively on our mental health and wellbeing. It’s important that young people reach out and ask for help and we know that headspace is a trusted service that many young people are comfortable accessing,” Mr Nankervis said.

“While we’ve seen positive changes in addressing the stigma of mental health, there’s still more to do- especially at the current time when our community is facing so many challenges. Investment in this service is a great step in supporting young locals in an accessible and youth-friendly location,” Mr Webb said.

headspace Samaritans

The headspace Cessnock satellite service will open in June and young people or their family or friends are encouraged to call (02) 4931 1000 to make an appointment time. Face to face service delivery will be dependent on COVID-19 restrictions.

Young people who are concerned about their mental health or the mental health of their families or friends can also access the eheadspace service which is a great online resource for those who may be facing challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other mental health concerns.