Suicide prevention: Face-to-face web counselling for youth in regional WA
Mental health organisation Youth Focus has launched face-to-face web counselling for young people living in remote and rural areas.
The service aims to assist in suicide prevention and is based in Northam.
The Youth Focus initiative offers young people access to experienced mental health doctors, with free and confidential face-to-face web counselling.
Chief executive officer of Youth Focus Fiona Kalaf said she was proud to be the organisation behind this service that would help improve youth mental health.
“This type of mental health counselling has never before been offered in WA,” she said.
Ms Kalaf said the service was available to referred patients between 12 and 25 years.
Referred patients were able to book an appointment at a nearby facility and use an iPad in a confidential area for their face-to-face counselling session.
Ms Kalaf said the youth program launched in Northam today but would soon be available in Dalwallinu and Bridgetown.
“By the end of this calendar year we will have placed 20 locations," she said.
“We are just working with various communities and schools at the moment to secure the best locations and the most safe and secure locations for young people.”
This program was trialled in 2016 with success in a number of schools.
Headspace senior clinical practice advisor Nick Duigan said it was important to have regional and remote mental counselling services.
“Young people who live in regional and remote areas of the country can often struggle being in a small community, where everyone knows everyone, particularly if they are struggling with mental health,” he said.
Ms Kalaf said Youth Focus did not offer culturally-specific counselling but did offer culturally-sensitive help to any young person.
Seeking help could sometimes seem daunting but Mr Duigan believed it was necessary.
People aged 12-25 seeking help for a mental health problem should contact Headspace.