Kununurra mental health support boost with opening of Headspace facility

Young people in the East Kimberley finally have access to mental health support this month, three years after the Morrison Government allocated a multi-million dollar payment to establish a facility in the region.

The new Headspace centre is located on Konkerberry Drive in Kununurra and offers help to people aged 12 to 25 years who are experiencing mental illness or are at risk of it.

Support is offered through early intervention related to mental health, relevant physical health, social and vocational support, and alcohol and drug use.

In April of 2019, the then-Federal Government announced the new Headspace would receive $3.5 million over four years as part of the $461 million Youth and Indigenous Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan, to be opened in mid-2020.

The dire need for mental health support was made apparent in later 2019 with the release of the Western Australia Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2021-25, where it was revealed WA’s far north to have some of the highest rates of youth suicide in the world.

The report also revealed that the suicide rate of Indigenous people in the Kimberley was twice as high as the rate among all Indigenous Australians.

Wunan Health was awarded the contract to run the facility in March 2021, and successfully led it to completion this month.

Wunan Health Clinical Director Dr Stephanie Trust said the organisation is excited to bring headspace to the East Kimberley town.

“It’s a much-needed service for youth in our community, especially our Aboriginal young people,” she said.

“I see a lot of young people struggling with their social, physical and emotional health, and to have a collaborative service model supporting them is critical to helping them to reach their goals.”

headspace Executive Director First Nations Wellbeing and Engagement Dr Lilly Brown said the facility is also well placed to respond to the diverse cultural needs of the community.

“Like many services in regional and remote areas, a large proportion of those accessing headspace Kununurra will be First Nations young people and their families,” she said.

“As a First Nations-led and locally run headspace, the centre will support those young people and families through strong approaches to social and emotional wellbeing.”

Members of Kununurra community were invited to tour the new Headspace centre on September 12 ahead of the official opening which was on Wednesday, September 14.