Cultures for mental health care of young people: an Australian blueprint for reform

Patrick D McGorry; Sherilyn D Goldstone; Alexandra G Parker; Debra J Rickwood; Ian B Hickie

doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(14)00082-0

Cultures for mental health care of young people: an Australian blueprint for reform

Lancet Psychiatry. 2014 Dec;1(7):559-68. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(14)00082-0. Epub 2014 Dec 3.

Authors

Patrick D McGorry¹, Sherilyn D Goldstone², Alexandra G Parker³, Debra J Rickwood⁴, Ian B Hickie⁵

Affiliations

¹ Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. Electronic address: pmcgorry@unimelb.edu.au.
² Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
³ Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
⁴ Headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, ACT, Australia.
⁵ Brain and Mind Research Centre, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.

PMID: 26361315
DOI: 10.1016/S2215-0366(14)00082-0

Abstract

Mental ill health is now the most important health issue facing young people worldwide. It is the leading cause of disability in people aged 10-24 years, contributing 45% of the overall burden of disease in this age group. Despite their manifest need, young people have the lowest rates of access to mental health care, largely as a result of poor awareness and help-seeking, structural and cultural flaws within the existing care systems, and the failure of society to recognise the importance of this issue and invest in youth mental health. We outline the case for a specific youth mental health stream and describe the innovative service reforms in youth mental health in Australia, using them as an example of the processes that can guide the development and implementation of such a service stream. Early intervention with focus on the developmental period of greatest need and capacity to benefit, emerging adulthood, has the potential to greatly improve the mental health, wellbeing, productivity, and fulfilment of young people, and our wider society.

Publication types

Review