New service to help young people

Young people have a new place to go to seek advice for general, sexual and mental health issues, education assistance or alcohol and drug services.

Aimed at young people aged 12 to 25, headspace opened in Bunbury yesterday and aims to achieve early prevention for any problems youth may have.

Service manager Nicky Smith encouraged young people to come in and check out the organisation without having to make an appointment.

“It’s one place where kids can come in that is stigma free,” she said.

Koombana Health Network chief executive June Foulds said the onsite GP was available for free to Medicare card holders.

“What’s been found is that when focusing on mental health, general health is sometimes ignored,” she said.

Mrs Smith said if a youth did not have a Medicare card, they could help them get one.

Located on Blair Street, headspace has counsellors to talk about any problems the client may be having, including bullying and heartbreak.

“We have identified 18,000 people in Greater Bunbury who could benefit from our services,” Mrs Foulds said.

“Young people can come from anywhere to see us.”

While headspace does not provide all services onsite, they can bring together allied health services to find the appropriate help.

Visit the headspace website at headspace.org.au, https://www.facebook.com/#!/headspacebunbury or call 9729 6800.