A CHORUS of young voices have joined in supporting the effort for a Headspace in Swan Hill, including one young woman who found it difficult to navigate the local youth mental health system.
The first step in a two-stage process to select the lead agency to take on Swan Hill’s Headspace centre will be completed by the end of January and will be followed by the development of a business plan.
Swan Hill woman Ashley Morgan has been among the young people to formally support bringing the youth mental health service to the area.
Drawing on her own experiences, Ms Morgan is a passionate advocate for the service.
Battling with mental health issues and substance abuse over several years, she found navigating the youth support system a difficult process.
“It was very nerve-wracking walking into the service for the first time,” she said.
“I became frustrated and uncomfortable telling my story to so many different services, once my counsellor came into the picture… that is when I started to feel comfortable and really came out of my shell.”
A 2013 report on youth mental health in Swan Hill identified opportunities for improvement to service provision in the local area including a need to work together and share information to ease access to support for young people.
“The fact that there will be all those services in Headspace… [it will make it easier for young people] knowing you can walk in and share your story to one person in there and they can tell you the best way to get help,” Ashley said.
Ashley is now a happy, healthy confident young woman and is adamantly setting a new path for herself.
Long-term she would like to join the police, but for now she is keen to advocate the benefits to other young people with mental health issues in seeking support.
The Swan Hill Headspace is expected to be established by December, 2015.
