April 5, 2012

Government youth mental health initiative a “significant” step

A $62 million funding package is a positive step towards reducing New Zealand’s grim youth mental health statistics, says Youth Horizons, a national organisation working with young people.

Details of the Prime Minister’s Youth Mental Health Project were announced yesterday [April 4] by the Prime Minister, John Key.

“Coupled with the recent announcements on youth welfare reform, the Prime Minister’s package of initiatives represents a significant step towards meeting the mental health needs of thousands of troubled teens,” says the chief executive of Youth Horizons, Cath Handley.

Ms Handley said she applauded the recent initiatives, “Identifying those young people who need help has been a major barrier to them receiving mental health services. Providing assessment and mentoring help at school and investing in technology that gives them better access to support is right on the button.

Coupled with these new ideas Youth Horizons would encourage the Government to maintain its emphasis on job creation. “The young people we work with need more support to access the training, education and work experience that helps them take the difficult step from adolescence to independence and adulthood.

“It’s very important that support organisations like Youth Horizons continue to work in partnership with industry and business to make a real difference for our young people,” she said.

Ms Handley said there were a number of excellent providers working in the youth mental health sector that have always struggled because of a lack of a well-focused multi-agency approach to identifying those most at risk.

“This new package puts money into health, education, family/whanau and community, fostering the kind of collaboration that’s sorely needed to make a real difference. It is refreshing to see the Government has picked up and is responding to this need,” Ms Handley said.

Youth Horizons has a 15 year history of delivering a range of therapeutic and skills-based programmes to young people at risk of conduct and anti-social behaviours.

“Our aim is to help young people make a positive move into adulthood by giving them the support they need to be independent and make a positive contribution to their communities. Our programmes are based on evidence of what works and our success can be measured.

“We feel the Prime Minister’s Youth Mental Health Project is tangible evidence that the Government is listening to concerns, and that our efforts, and the efforts of many other organisations working in the same field, have not gone unnoticed, and that together we will make real progress,” Ms Handley said.

About Youth Horizons:

1) Youth Horizons A not-for-profit trust instigated by Dame Margaret Bazley and established in 1996
2) More than 15 years of specialising in evidence based services for young people with serious anti-social behavior and conduct problems predominantly in Auckland, Bay of Plenty, and Waikato
3) Today Youth Horizons’ work also encompass a suite of therapeutic services all aimed at young people and their families who are in-risk or at-risk of negative social outcomes
4) Services range from clinical in-care intensive treatment, to residential and community-based therapeutic and social interventions
5) Youth Horizons’ key point of difference is in the alignment of cultural, clinical and community best practice where all outcomes are measured
6) More than 150 staff and thirty permanent family homes are involved with up to 2000 young people per year

ENDS

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