HEADSPACE Frankston, which offers mental health support for young people, has received a $240,000 funding boost to help it deal with increasing demand.
Manager Rosemary Dowling said the service was having difficulty meeting the rising need for mental health support, with around 1400 people seeking help annually, compared to around 1000 five years ago.
She said the funding was a “top-up” grant to provide added services to help young people with more complex issues.
Announcing the funding with Dunkley Liberal MP Chris Crewther last week, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said it would ensure vital mental health services were available to young people in the community for the next two years.
Mr Crewther said assistance for young people with mental health issues in Frankston and on the Mornington Peninsula was an important government focus.
“Additional funding to Frankston Headspace will assist the centre to continue the fantastic work it does to help our young people,” he said.
Headspace provides a free and confidential health services for young people, and works closely with other providers to deliver a coordinated support service for people with a range of needs.