Recommendation 20

Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people

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Status: In progress

What the Royal Commission said

The Royal Commission recommended that the Victorian Government:

  • ensure young people aged 12 to 25 years can access the treatment, care and support that they need
  • create mental health services specifically for young people
  • develop partnerships between youth services so young people can access the type and level of care they need
  • ensure young people can access step-down and step-up care options when needed
  • support the young person's family, carers or supporters to be involved in their treatment and care.

What we've achieved

Intensive Mobile Youth Outreach Service

  • Mobile outreach teams for young people, known as the Intensive Mobile Youth Outreach Service (IMYOS) has expanded to more locations across Victoria. These teams provide specialised outreach support to young people with complex needs.
  • The mobile teams help young people who find it hard to attend clinic-based appointments, making sure they can still access the treatment, care and support they need.
  • Support is provided in places where young people feel most comfortable, such as at home, in their local community, or nearby public spaces.

Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (PYMHWS)

  • PYMHWS was established in July 2025 as a new health service to deliver bed-based and community mental health care for young people in Northwest Metropolitan Melbourne.

What we're doing

  • We are building a more connected and responsive mental health and wellbeing system for infants, children, and young people. This means providing the right treatment, care, and support for people from birth through to 25 years of age, based on their age and stage of development.
  • This will be achieved through the implementation of Recommendations 5, recommendation 19 , recommendation 20 and recommendation 21.

Infant, Child and Youth Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services

headspace

  • headspace services are a key access point for young people seeking treatment, care and support.
  • We are working with the Commonwealth Government, as funder of headspace services, along with other key stakeholders to strengthen integration between headspace services (Level 4) and Infant, Child and Youth Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services (Level 5).
  • This includes the development of a guideline for enhancing and integrating youth mental health and wellbeing in Victoria. This is a joint commitment from the Victorian Government and the Commonwealth Government for a more consistent, integrated youth mental health system. It will set expectations for stronger partnerships, clearer referral pathways, and the importance of clinical in‑reach and shared‑care arrangements between headspace and Infant, Child and Youth Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services.
  • This is consistent with the Royal Commission’s recommendations and the Bilateral Agreement on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention between Victoria and the Commonwealth.

Hospital Outreach Post-suicidal Engagement (HOPE)

  • We have established four new Child and Youth HOPE services at Alfred Health, Monash Children's Hospital, Royal Children's Hospital and Orygen, see recommendation 3
  • The new services provide support to children and young people who have attempted suicide, have suicidal ideation or have self-harmed. The services have been designed with children and young people as well as their families and carers.

Updated

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