YouthLink comes of age with a 21st birthday bash

Over two decades of delivering mental health services in Western Australia has been celebrated - with a party for YouthLink, marking 21 years since the service opened its doors.

Mental Health Minister Helen Morton joined dozens of doctors, mental health workers, WA Health senior executives and current and former clients of YouthLink, for the celebration at the gallery within the WA State Theatre Centre in Northbridge. The venue's walls were adorned with artwork from YouthLink clients, and guests were treated to entertainment and dozens of birthday cupcakes.

Mrs Morton said YouthLink had forged its way forward in treating and caring for young people with mental health and substance abuse disorders.

"YouthLink is a leader in the field, it targets interventions to vulnerable and disadvantaged youth, including those of diverse sexuality and gender as well as those without a home," she said.

YouthLink is a State-wide mental health program managed through the North Metropolitan Health Service, Mental Health and provides specialist mental health counselling, consultation, training and community development.  The service focuses on at-risk young people who are marginalised, disadvantaged and suffer severe and complex mental health disorders.  It has strong alliances with several service providers, individual practitioners and community agencies.

Many YouthLink clients have a history of severe childhood trauma, abuse and disrupted attachments.

19-year-old Aebe Shepherdson, a YouthLink client, performed a dance routine to welcome guests to the party.  Ms Shepherdson said the service saved her life.

"Two years ago I was 'high risk', both my grandparents who looked after me died within weeks of each other, I was left caring for my 13-year-old sister," Ms Shepherdson said.

"When I went to YouthLink the support from my counsellor was incredible."

Ms Shepherdson now has a steady job as an education assistant after completing two TAFE courses.

"I never realised how crippling depression could be until I fell into it.  For those who need help, finding the courage to reach out is the first and most important step to recovery.  Mental illness is a downwards spiral and is difficult to overcome alone," Ms Shepherdson said.

YouthLink director Denise Follett has been with the service for almost its entire 21 years, and in a speech to guests at the party she said establishing YouthLink, under its former name was difficult and met with resistance.

"YouthLink was based on principals that were neither common nor valued, today those principals are ordinary aspirations but in the 1990s they were revolutionary. The number of times we were told we can't do this, it's wrong, was staggering," Ms Follett said.

"The service has been led by many different governance structures throughout its 21 years, we've had many 'parents' and this has had its challenges."

YouthLink has been through some changes to come of age, growing significantly over the years.  Established in 1992 thanks to a Federal Government grant, it was originally known as the 'Troubled Youth Support Service'.  Following a name change and evaluation six years later it achieved recurrent State funding.  Now it's a multi-award winning, internationally recognised service.

Some of YouthLink's achievements include:

• Bronze certificate at the Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Service Achievement Awards 1997

• Poster Prize at the International Association for Suicide Prevention Congress 1997

• Winner of the Maitri Aboriginal and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Mental Health Award; Mental Health Good Outcomes Awards 2009

• Western Australian Aids Council Youth Award, World AIDS DAY 2010.

Mental health issues are responsible for 55 per cent of the burden of disease for young people aged between 15-24 years.

Minister's office - 6552 6900