On the 21st of September 2010, the new Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler visited Inspire Foundation and the University of Sydney’s, Brain and Mind Research Institute at the Youth Mental Health building in Camperdown. We were extremely pleased to have the Minister visit Inspire so early in his new appointment and to have the opportunity to describe the mental health needs of the 370,000 young people who access our service each year.
The visit enabled us to show how the internet is a valuable tool for reaching and supporting young people in need of mental health information, support and referral to other services. With Professor Ian Hickie present during the visit, we were also able to demonstrate how our partnership with Brain and Mind Research Institute, Orygen Youth Health and others is assisting us to develop innovative approaches and a mental health system more targeted to the needs of young people.
We look forward to working with the new Minister and discussing the opportunities for building Inspire’s capacity to reach and support more young people, particularly those who are experiencing high levels of psychological stress who are not accessing traditional mental health services.
Youth Ambassadors, Rosie Swanton and Chris Pycroft provided The Hon Mark Butler MP with a fly-by tour of ReachOut.com, allowing him to see firsthand what young people experience online and how they interact with the site.
The visit enabled us to show how the internet is a valuable tool for reaching and supporting young people in need of mental health information, support and referral to other services. With Professor Ian Hickie present during the visit, we were also able to demonstrate how our partnership with Brain and Mind Research Institute, Orygen Youth Health and others is assisting us to develop innovative approaches and a mental health system more targeted to the needs of young people.
We look forward to working with the new Minister and discussing the opportunities for building Inspire’s capacity to reach and support more young people, particularly those who are experiencing high levels of psychological stress who are not accessing traditional mental health services.
Youth Ambassadors, Rosie Swanton and Chris Pycroft provided The Hon Mark Butler MP with a fly-by tour of ReachOut.com, allowing him to see firsthand what young people experience online and how they interact with the site.
