Health

‘It’s not working’: SA non-profit selected to transform youth mental healthcare

Youth Opportunities has been selected by one of Australia’s biggest private funders of youth mental health as a three-year social impact partner.

Youth Opportunities, the only South Australian impact partner selected, will receive up to $1.8 million over the next three years from Future Generation Global to accelerate its work reducing the number of young people at risk of developing a mental health disorder.

Future Generation Global Chief Executive Officer Caroline Gurney says the current funding of mental healthcare is not working.

“We need to start tackling the root causes behind the alarming increase in youth mental health conditions, distress and suicidal ideation,” said Ms Gurney.

“Prevention is an area that has largely been neglected in mental health policy, attracting only one percent of combined government mental health expenditure.

“This is despite Australia’s strong record of reducing the financial burden and human cost of many other conditions-such as skin cancer, heart disease, strokes and diabetes-by investing in prevention.

“We are certain that by beginning to front-load more of our investment in mental health, similar advances can be made in the youth mental health space.”

Youth Opportunities Chief Executive Erin Faehrmann said the funding will allow the charity to accelerate its evidence-based work which focuses on prevention and early intervention.

“We know that the earlier we can reach young people, the better,” said Ms Faehrmann.

“In 2021, we saw a 28% reduction in the number of young people at high risk of developing a mental health disorder after completing our program.

“We know it works, and we’re so grateful to have the backing of an organisation like Future Generation Global who did their due diligence and came to the same conclusion.

“Right now, Australia’s youth are doing it tough – they are deeply concerned with stress, mental health, school, and study.

“Fortunately, these are the issues we know our evidence-based programs have the greatest impacts on, and we are ready to scale up and reach more young people in need.

“Youth Opportunities has been in a high growth phase for the past few years, but still only reached 0.3% of young people nationally last year and 4% of young South Australians.

“This funding will help us to do so much more at a time when our young people need us more than ever.”

For more information about Youth Opportunities, please visit: youthopportunities.com.au

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