Mental health services accessible over festive break

The recently launched headspace Mount Gambier ‘talk soon’ program will not be taking a break over the Christmas period with mental health support service offering appointments from December 27-29.

The ‘talk soon’ program provides same-day appointments for young people to access support when they need it.

This program will be available over that period on December 27 from 9.30am-5.30pm; December 28 from 9.30am-7pm and December 29 from 9.30am-5.30pm.

These appointments are available to people in-person, online or via telephone.

Headspace Mount Gambier community liaison worker Nick McInerney said the ‘talk-soon’ service was an update to the existing walk-in service which headspace has offered since 2021.

Prior to the launch of ‘talk-soon’, young people were able to access the headspace walk-in service, which was also available three days per week. This updated ‘talk-soon’ option was designed for people to access on-the-spot support without a structured appointment by walking in to talk to a qualified clinician.

“The service began out of some funding received from the federal government in a response to COVID-19, however, with that funding being no longer available, headspace are embedding it as an addition to our existing programs and funding,” Nick said.

All headspace staff members are trained in single-session therapy to be able to deliver these sessions to young people who access the ‘talk-soon’ service. It is a single-session therapy model, which includes a follow-up call two weeks post-appointment. These free sessions are solution focused and provide young people with tips and strategies to take away from the session.

“There is an array of challenges that young people experience which could be causing mental health difficulties, this service is designed to be able to support people with situational problems and will support young people who are feeling long lasting effects from COVID-19,” Nick said. “This service will provide young people with tips and strategies to take away and implement in their lives.”