Wait times for young Victorians needing urgent psychological support have blown out by 20 days, as the National Youth Mental Health Foundation accuses governments of stalling funding.
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The wait time was 40 days in early 2021 but grew to 60 days by the end of the year, with the issue even worse in regional and rural parts of Victoria, Headspace revealed on Thursday.
Headspace chief executive Jason Trethowan said the wait was "too long" and accused both state and federal governments of delaying the release of new funding to the service.
"A lot of the new funding for Headspace is tied up in lengthy negotiations between state and federal governments," he said.
The Australian government plans to invest more than $870 million over four years to enhance and expand the Headspace network, reduce wait times and ensure more young people can access mental health support.
A spokeswoman for Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention David Coleman said negotiations with the states and territories were progressing and "we want to have them finalised as soon as possible".
Mr Trethowan also called for both levels of government to sign up to agreements on mental health and suicide prevention.
"These agreements matter to young people and families because what they contain is a significant part of what is needed to help reduce wait times and ensure we can meet the needs of young people and their families," he said.
Headspace, which is federally funded, offers early intervention mental health support to people aged 12 to 25.
Mr Trethowan said "evidence was clear" that the COVID-19 pandemic had been particularly tough on young people.
"More young people are seeking help now than ever before and it's critical we do more to ensure that help is provided in a timely way so they can get through tough times and back on track," he said.
Victoria's opposition leader Matthew Guy said mental health was "one of the biggest issues" facing the state, as he reiterated an election commitment to bring 2000 extra counsellors into schools.
"We have to do more to combat the mental health crisis that has ballooned in our state from COVID, but also that existed beforehand," he said.
"We are seeking to put forward sensible, real solutions to solve the mental health crisis that our state is going through."
Victoria's Mental Health Minister James Merlino said the state government was investing more than $842 million into youth mental health alone.
"We've embarked on the biggest reform of a mental health system in our nation's history - and we're not wasting a minute building a system that works for every Victorian who needs care as soon as they need it, no matter where they live," he said.
"Growing our mental health system to reach everyone who needs it also means growing our workforce."
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Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
Australian Associated Press
