Hawkesbury Headspace Is Destigmatizing Mental Health With Their Open Day
By Sophie Poredos
Hawkesbury headspace’s free mental health service has been operating in Richmond for the past nine months, but they are hoping to reach even more people with their upcoming open day.
Between 2020 and 2022, the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing found that over 1 in 5 Australians aged 16 to 85 experienced a mental health disorder in the past year. Mental health can be an especially challenging journey for young people, particularly those without a strong support network.
To address this, Hawkesbury headspace offers free counselling for those aged 12 to 25, in areas including mental health, work, school and study, physical and sexual health, and substance abuse.
Hawkesbury headspace also collaborates with local schools through outreach programs and facilitates social groups to help young people connect with their community. At their upcoming open day on October 18th, they are excited to offer art therapy, live music from local school students, youth art displays, as well as the essential slushies and fairy floss for all attendees.
Lauren Betts, a social worker with Hawkesbury headspace, is part of the Youth Access team and is passionate about ensuring young people have equitable access to care.
“Here at headspace, we meet young people where they’re at and work towards goals led by our clients. We strive to continue to be a space that allows youth with the opportunity to seek mental health support in a confidential, safe, and supportive manner”.
At Hawkesbury headspace, Youth Access Team Clinician Laura Vouden is a Registered Nurse who has noticed an increase in demand for services in Richmond over the past nine months. She emphasises the importance of providing free mental health support for young people, as financial stress often creates limits accessibility:
“We also know that poor mental health and challenging life circumstances may prohibit a young person from obtaining an income of their own, and that it is not always feasible for family members to pay for these services. We believe that increased accessibility for our service encourages more young people to attend headspace”.
When asked about what advice she would give to those hesitant about seeking mental health support, Lauren said:
“I would first like to validate that it is completely normal to feel that way. For generations, and in many environments that people grow up in, there has been a stigma that reaching out for support is a sign of weakness. But reaching out for support is a sign of strength, not a weakness. Remember, you are not alone, and it is okay to prioritise your well-being and take that step that can lead to positive changes”.
Hawkesbury headspace’s open day will be on the 18th of October from 2pm to 5pm at 120 Francis Street, Richmond. If you’re aged 12 – 25, you can also book an appointment with Hawkesbury headspace by calling their number on 1800 517 171, or emailing [email protected].
If this story has raised concerns for you, you can contact the National Suicide Hotline on 13 11 14.