November 2002

Teen mental health boost

Extra funding for a key centre supporting young people’s mental health is ensuring Victoria stays at the forefront of research in this area.

Orygen Research Centre has been made possible with a funding commitment from the Colonial Foundation of $2.4 million per year for five years.

Opening the centre, Minister for Health John Thwaites said the Government commited $7.75 million per year to Orygen Youth Health—formerly MH-SKY-Youth—for the treatment and support it offered to children and young people dealing with mental health issues.

‘The new Orygen Research Centre will build on the fine work of the Youth Health service, enabling important extra research in youth-specific preventive psychiatry.’

The research centre is a partnership of Orygen, the Colonial Foundation, Melbourne University and Melbourne’s Health’s North Western Mental Health Program.

Its aims will be to create, refine and spread research knowledge relating to emerging psychiatric disorders in those aged 12 to 25.

If research can identify the key causes of disorders and what factors influence their course and outcome, then effective prevention strategies can be developed.

The partnership with Melbourne University and Melbourne Health will ensure the centre is aligned with an educational and research institute of international standing and a health network that provides an extensive mental health program.

Mr Thwaites said the recent National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing found that in any 12-month period, up to 27 per cent of young people aged 18 to 24 experienced some form of mental health problem or illness.

‘The Colonial Foundation is to be congratulated for its commitment to research in this important public health area and we welcome their generous contribution,’ he said.