Thursday, 24 March 2022

Narre Warren South electorate youth mental health

Mr MAAS (Narre Warren South) (17:04): (6297) The adjournment matter I wish to raise is for the attention of the Minister for Mental Health and concerns youth mental health. The action I seek is that the minister provide further information on how the Andrews Labor government is supporting the mental health of young people in my electorate of Narre Warren South. For many years seeking help was seen as a sign of weakness, and people were encouraged to either just get over it or even to just suck it up. Thankfully times are changing, and there is a recognition that many in our community need mental health support and specialised services to get them through their difficult times. It is especially hard for our youth, who have limited world experience and coping mechanisms to deal with everything they are facing, often for the first time. Growing up can be hard, as we all know, and mental health issues are another challenge in their daily lives.

That is why the state government is investing $3.8 billion in our mental health system and implementing every single recommendation from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. The stakes are of course very high, as there is no doubt specialised services are needed to make sure our children and teenagers get the help they need through school initiatives and community services, including suicide prevention programs. I would appreciate any further information that the minister could provide on the supports for youth mental health in my electorate, and I look forward to sharing the minister’s response with my community.