Working Together to Improve Youth Mental Health

Working Together to Improve Youth Mental Health

Organisations working together and a better recognition of the work of community agencies could go a long way to alleviating the youth mental health deficit highlighted in the Gluckman Report, says Youthline.

The report notes that children and adolescents make up 28% of the population but receive only 11% of mental health funding and calls for additional mental health workers and increased screening, assessment and early intervention.

Youthline spokesperson Stephen Bell says much of this work is already done by community agencies.

“The reality is there are plenty of organisations connected with these vulnerable youth and are often the first to spot potential mental health issues or provide early intervention. What is really needed is for the role community agencies play in mental health to be recognised by government and for agencies and mental health services to link more effectively.”

Bell says fragmented services, patch protection and a belief that only certain groups can provide certain interventions is one of the biggest barriers to youth health.

“While specialist services are needed in some cases, often this approach creates bottlenecks, or young people are involved with several services that aren’t talking to each other so the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing. “

He says this contributes to young people dropping out of or not accessing services and urges the sector to look at how mental health and community agencies can work more closely together.

Bell suggests some solutions could involve easier referral pathways from community agencies to mental health services and access to District Health Board training for community agency workers.

Those aged 18-25 are some of the most at risk he says because although under the umbrella of adult services, they are developmentally still adolescents and may struggle to engage.

“Community agencies which do have strong links to this age group can play a huge role in their wellbeing and contribute to cost effective solutions,” he says.

Youthline is a national youth development agency providing counselling, training, information and youth work services.

ENDS

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