Minister for Children and Young People Mick Gentleman says it is the first time mental health services for young people have been offered in a “family-friendly suite”.
The ACT government has opened the doors of its community health centres to child psychologists in an initiative designed to improve access to free mental health care for Canberrans 12 years and under, but has fallen short of committing more funds to the service.
Thanks to a partnership with the federal government-funded ACT Medicare Local, the ACT Government funded child and family centres in Gungahlin, West Belconnen and Tuggeranong will now offer mental health services for children through the Health in Mind program.
ACT Medicare Local Chair Dr Rashmi Sharma said the program was already offering support for children experiencing bullying, anxiety, symptoms of emerging depression or other mental health issues, but is currently offered at separate sites across Canberra.
“We all know the health budget is extremely tight at the moment that’s why we’re saying as Medicare Local we have this service available let’s make sure we target it to the right population and actually utilise services already in town to make it more cost effective,” she said.