BMRI to help tackle youth mental health

12 December 2005

The Brain and Mind Research Institute (BMRI) at the University of Sydney is to become a major player in combating mental health problems faced by young Australians.

Announced today by Prime Minister John Howard, the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, of which BMRI is a partner, will receive $54 million over the next four years to promote early intervention and effective treatment of mental health issues affecting young people.

Mental health and drug related disorders are the number one health issue affecting young Australians. Currently, only one in four young people with a mental health problem receive professional help. High suicide rates in young adults typically follow on from untreated mental health problems as a teenager.

Early intervention can make a huge difference. By forming partnerships with public, private, generalists and specialists providers, the National Youth Mental Health Foundation will deliver major improvements by promoting early, effective treatments by GPs and specialists.

The National Youth Mental Health Foundation is a consortium of agencies with extensive experience in mental health. The core members are Brain and Mind Research Institute at the University of Sydney, ORYGEN Research Centre, the Australian Division of General Practice and the Australian Psychological Society.

“The consortium has the experience and capacity to ensure that all the major objectives of the Foundation will be realized,” said Professor Ian Hickie, Director of the Brain and Mind Research Institute. “We are committed to working with young people, families, service providers and governments across Australia to make youth mental health a national priority.”