The Central Coast is set to be home to one of 25 Safeguards Child and Adolescent Mental Health Response Teams announced in the State Budget to ensure specialised care for children and teenagers across NSW.
Treasurer, Dominic Perrottet, said the funding package would enhance specialist child and adolescent mental health services in every Local Health District over the next four years.
“We’re committed to improving the health and safety of our young people and this new model of care will be launched with an initial $18M investment, with a total of $109.5M allocated over the next four years,” Perrottet said.
“The new multidisciplinary teams will be established across the state, providing rapid and flexible community care responses to children and adolescents in acute mental health distress.”
Minister for Mental Health, Bronnie Taylor, said the Safeguards teams will provide community based support to help children, teens and their families coordinate all aspects of their care.
“This is a game changer in addressing mental health for children and teenagers,” she said.
“It’s all about bringing the right care at the right time and in the right place to children, adolescents and their loved ones.
“These clinicians will work with patients and their families for 6-8 weeks providing wraparound support at home and school as well as facilitating access to follow-up care as required.
“The teams will then transition the patients into longer term mental health community-based supports.”
Skilled child and adolescent mental health clinicians will also help families in coordinating other aspects of their children’s mental health needs by linking them with appropriate services as needed such as GPs, private psychiatrists, headspace centres, education and vocational supports, NDIS providers, youth organisations or other needs such as housing providers.
Source:
Media release, Jun 21
Treasurer, Dominic Perrottet, and Minister for Mental Health, Bronnie Taylor