SUPPORTERS and staff at headspace Ballarat celebrated the organisation\u2019s tenth birthday last week with the community coming together to honour the occasion.<\/p>\n
Headspace works to support young people with their physical and mental health, alcohol and drug problems, and provide work and study support.<\/p>\n
The organisation\u2019s key focuses include early intervention that can help young people to find the right support and build resilience for the future.<\/p>\n
Headspace Ballarat manager Janelle Johnson said the 10-year milestone was a time to reflect on achievements.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince 2013, we have supported 6388 young people, providing over 40,000 sessions, to support them on their journey to better mental health,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach year, we help hundreds of young people, and their family and friends, access vital support through our one-to-one sessions, group support, online and phone counselling services and our presence in schools.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brodie Kamp is a member of the organisation\u2019s youth reference group that aims to allow young people to have a direct contribution to how headspace is run.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s the same as any demographic that you\u2019re trying to help is that you need to involve those people in decisions that your making,\u201d said Mr Kamp.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t make decisions for someone else without asking what is best, it just doesn\u2019t work, and it doesn\u2019t feel good for the people you\u2019re helping.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the moment we are working on a mental health survey where we\u2019ve asked young people in the community questions about what they think could be done better in the mental health sector.\u201d<\/p>\n
The survey has so far seen 1000 responses and reflects the opinions of approximately 10 per cent of young people in Ballarat.<\/p>\n
Ms Johnson said there is high demand for headspace\u2019s services especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, and the organisation hopes to expand into the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve run out of room again so we\u2019re very lucky to have the support of our consortium members,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can provide a better breadth of service if we have more space.\u201d<\/p>\n
To cope with the demand headspace teams have been set up in Ballarat Health Service buildings.<\/p>\n
Ms Johnson thanked the support from stakeholders and the community which have allows headspace Ballarat to develop of the decade.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe couldn\u2019t do the great work we do, without the backing of stakeholders and funders, our consortium members and of course the support of our community,\u201d she said<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SUPPORTERS and staff at headspace Ballarat celebrated the organisation\u2019s tenth birthday last week with the community coming together to honour the occasion. Headspace works to support young people with their physical and mental health, alcohol and drug problems, and provide work and study support. The organisation\u2019s key focuses include early intervention that can help young […]<\/p>\n