MENTAL HEALTH
Youturn’s mental health programs prioritise early intervention and comprehensive support for young people aged 12 to 25, who are experiencing rising rates of psychological distress. We offer a wide range of clinical and non-clinical services, including managing five headspace centres and two Youth Enhanced Service (YES) programs in Adelaide and Darling Downs. Our focus is to empower young people by supporting them to navigate life’s challenges, improve their mental wellbeing, and build resilience for a brighter future.
With a youth-centred approach, we provide tailored support for a wide spectrum of mental health concerns, from mild to severe. Through innovation, collaboration, and dedicated care, we reach over 3,700 young individuals annually across Queensland and South Australia, positively impacting the next generation and helping them thrive.
We are committed to supporting:
young people 12-25 years
who are experiencing mild to moderate mental health concerns, through our headspace programs.
young people 12-25 years
through our YES programs providing individualised support for those with moderate to high mental health needs.
families & guardians
offering the resources and guidance they need to support their loved ones through recovery & growth.
Highlights
We are proud to be part of an organisation and team that innovate and think outside the box to provide holistic support for people’s needs. This includes fundraising to deliver additional and alternate supports such as art therapy as well as music and movement therapy, and participation in virtual reality research, as well as new suicide risk assessment research.
Youturn is also on an exciting journey to enhance our GP sustainability in our programs, by becoming a GP registrar training organisation. This new status means we can support GP registrars across our sites, further increasing our GP attraction and retention. Ensuring GPs are accessible in our Mental Health programs is vital to providing holistic physical and mental health support.
Additionally, the bi-annual headspace conference, held in Brisbane for the first time, saw Youturn staff actively involved. Our teams presented at four different sessions, including a plenary session where Social and Emotional Wellbeing Worker, Albertha Long, shared her insights, reflecting Youturn’s leadership and innovation in mental health support.
Other achievements
- headspace Gympie celebrated its first anniversary as a full centre, with a visit from headspace CEO Jason Trethowan, who met with Youth Advisors and staff to mark the occasion.
- headspace Toowoomba expanded its capacity with a Capital Enhancement grant, adding new counselling rooms and flexible spaces. It also hosted Psychiatric Registrars from Darling Downs Hospital, enhancing mental health collaboration and training opportunities.
- headspace Bribie Island: After what was a long journey to achieve multiple approvals to proceed, headspace Bribie Island has officially opened. This was an exciting step forward to supporting young people in the region.
- headspace Bundaberg has been highly active in the community, collaborating with local organisations to host events such as the Five Nights at Freddy’s Movie Night, League Tag Carnival, Create with Pride, Multicultural World Cup, and a BBQ at Dorrie Day. In recognition of Youth Week, they also hosted an Art Showcase at the School of Arts featuring over 50 artworks by local young artists, which is set to become an annual event
- headspace Maroochydore launched a salaried General Practitioner role and was approved as a GP training facility, with plans to begin a GP registrar program to further expand medical services. Youturn’s fundraising efforts have also supported headspace Maroochydore to deliver a range of youth activities such as free Art, Music, and Movement Therapy programs in the YouConnect Hub.
- headspace Caboolture held a successful and well-attended Drag Trivia Night, promoting positive support for the LGBTIQ+ community in the region.
- YES Adelaide celebrated its launch and signed MOUs with key partners, building a strong reputation in the mental health sector.
- YES Darling Downs established a fully staffed office in Toowoomba, providing mental health support to communities, including Goondiwindi and Cherbourg.
Challenges
- Recruitment and Retention of mental health staff, especially in rural areas, is a major challenge. Youturn has addressed this by offering additional benefits and incentives to attract and retain skilled professionals.
Future focus
- Recruit a clinical educator to support clinical governance, develop the competency framework, and create a cohesive Youturn Mental Health Model of Care.
- Software and systems improvements: Upgrade software to streamline workflows, reduce manual tracking, and better support staff in delivering high-quality care.
- Advocacy for Tewantin services: Collaborate with Noosa Council, PHN, and government representatives to establish a mental health program in Tewantin, addressing the gap in local support services.
Funders
Our headspace centres and YES programs are funded on a regional basis through the Primary Health Networks and Medical Benefits Schedule Billing.
CASE STUDY
Jade’s story
Jade*, 21-year-old female, presented to headspace Toowoomba with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after escaping from a war zone where she witnessed war-related violence. Jade originally sought treatment from the Toowoomba Hospital but decided against the Psychiatrist’s recommendations in hope of recovering without medication. Jade is an active member of the multicultural community in Toowoomba, but found it difficult because it triggered her flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, and hypervigilance symptoms.
Given the history of trauma, meeting Jade where she was at, the team collaboratively decided to engage in a course of Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment in combination with some Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).
After seven sessions of therapy between February and June, Jade was able to process her trauma and learn skills to cope with her mental health. She reported that she was able to become “her old self” and be more active in the community and feel more confident in her university studies. Jade also received a job offer.
In relation to Jade’s outcomes, her Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS) total score reduced from 74 in October 2023 (pre-treatment) to 0 in June 2024 (post-treatment). Also, Jade’s score on the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) reduced from 44 (pre-EMDR treatment) to 3 (post-EMDR treatment), with higher scores on the ITQ indicating more frequent and intense experience of flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, and hypervigilance. headspace Toowoomba’s tailored care pathways allow us to meet young people where they are at.
*Name changed
The resilience and capacity for change that we see in young people at headspace Toowoomba, constantly inspires and motivates the team.
Scott Johnston
Centre Manager headspace Toowoomba
CASE STUDY
Sam* had recently graduated high school, and found themselves feeling lost, socially isolated, and unmotivated. When first visiting our YES team, Sam described days as monotonous, mundane and lonely, having lost interest in their usual hobbies and felt little pleasure beyond playing video games. Despite a desire to continue their education and pursue a fulfilling career, Sam felt hopeless and disconnected from their passions.
In a peer support session, Sam was provided with a safe and compassionate environment to explore their feelings. Together with their peer support worker, Sam reflected on past interests that had diminished due to experiences of being misunderstood and judged. This supportive relationship encouraged Sam to consider new possibilities.
The team organised a tour of a learning academy focused on music, arts and game design, where Sam described feeling a genuine sense of excitement and belonging. They described feeling for the first time in years a sense of interest and motivation to embrace the challenge of engaging with study, exploring new interests and eager to meet peers and make new friendships.
While Sam is still facing difficulties, they are filled with excitement that it is possible to feel excitement, belonging and hope for the future, and has now opened up to new experiences and possibilities.
*Name changed
SUICIDE PREVENTION
