New Mental Health Program For Adelaide Youth

Department of Health

A redesigned program to help young people with complex mental health was officially launched by the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Emma McBride.

YES (Youth Enhanced Services) Adelaide supports young people aged 12 to 25 in the Adelaide region facing severe and complex mental health concerns.

The program, commissioned by Adelaide Primary Health Network is delivered by charity organisation Youturn. Its services help young people with a wide range of mental health concerns, including anxiety disorders, trauma, eating disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, and substance-use disorders.

YES is designed for young people who experience barriers to accessing mental health care to meet their needs. It offers outreach and telehealth options to allow young people to receive support in a time, place and format that suits them.

Services provided through YES Adelaide include psychological therapy, medical and psychiatric care, peer support and case management.

The redesigned program will provide support to a wider age group and offers a broader range of health professionals through one centralised service.

Since commencing in July 2023, the revised YES service has supported 241 young people and provided 2,179 occasions of care and support.

The Albanese Government is providing $58.3 million to Primary Health Networks in 2023-24 to commission youth severe mental health services, such as YES.

It also funds Orygen, the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, to support Primary Health Networks to plan, commission and deliver YES programs across Australia.

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister, Emma McBride:

“Mental ill health is a big concern for young people. Studies show that nearly 40 per cent of people aged 16 to 24 experience a mental health condition (in the previous 12 months).

“The Albanese Government is doing more to help young people given the growing demand in Adelaide and across the country.

“The YES program is helping young people throughout Adelaide with severe and complex mental ill health – in a time, place and way that works for them.

“It’s filling a gap in the system for young people with severe and complex mental ill health.”

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