“Developmentally appropriate” program: Minister for Mental Health Jai Rowell. Photo: Jonathan Ng
The NSW government has announced that it will contribute an extra $2.1 million to a support program for young people with a mental illness.
A successful trial at Richmond psychiatric rehabilitation centre of the young peoples outreach program (Y-POP) found an 80 per cent reduction in the amount of time spent in hospital by young clients after entry to the program.
Minister for Mental Health Jai Rowell said that those involved with the program made significant progress in a number of aspects of their lives including social engagement, independent living skills, health and well-being, self-esteem and confidence levels.
The program has been running since 2009 in Blacktown and Penrith and children are referred mostly after a period of treatment in a hospital.
“It’s for young people who have trouble connecting with other services,” said Pamela Rutledge, the chief executive of Richmond PRA.
“We go into the kids’ homes, we work with their family, often kids are locked away in their room, they’re so frightened and unwell. [Staff] can basically sit and talk to them and help them reconnect and get them in touch with clinical help if they need it or back to school or work.
“We’ve had amazing success with helping kids avoid hospitalisation. We’ve prevented suicide.”
The successful trial has led to the government committing funding to establish centres in South-Western Sydney, Hunter New England, Nepean Blue Mountains, Northern NSW and Western Sydney local health districts.
“Previous NSW community living support programs for people with severe mental illness have focused on the needs of adults,” Mr Rowell said.
“The Youth Community Living Support Service program will be developmentally appropriate for young people aged 16 to 24 years and their families.”
“They will also provide access to other services to address young people’s needs, such as income support, employment, drug and alcohol and other health services, accommodation and recreation, while ongoing clinical care will be provided by the local mental health service.”