Capital Health Network

Capital Health Network

headspace Canberra

headspace Canberra provides early intervention mental health services to young people aged 12-25 years and is designed to support young people access the help they need for problems affecting their wellbeing, including mental health, physical health, alcohol and other drug services, study and work support. CHN, ACT’s PHN commissioned Marathon Health to be the lead agency of headspace Canberra.

The demand for headspace services in the ACT region continued to grow. In the last year, 1391 young people accessed headspace Canberra, an increase of 11.5% from the previous year. Over 930 new young people accessed services at headspace Canberra, up by 44% from the previous year.

Headspace Canberra delivered ‘onespace’ sessions (solutions-based therapy) to reduce barriers of access and wait times. Over the last year, 298 onespace early intervention mental health sessions were delivered which took a pragmatic, strengths-based approach to a young person’s current needs.

headspace Tuggeranong

Over the last year, CHN commissioned Grand Pacific Health to set up Canberra’s second headspace centre in the ACT. Following recommendations from a Feasibility Study conducted by the Youth Coalition of the ACT a decision was made to establish the new centre in Tuggeranong. headspace Tuggeranong opened in July 2021 and assisted in meeting the needs of young people requiring access to mental health services in Canberra’s south.

Client story

A transgender person in their early 20s presented to headspace after experiencing prolonged anxiety over 10 years. They reported that their symptoms had worsened over time and their coping skills were no longer as effective as before. They also presented with symptoms of depression including low mood, sleeping difficulties, nightmares, minimal social withdrawal and fleeting thoughts of suicide.

Given the young person’s presentation, they were recommended mental health counselling with one of the headspace staff clinicians. The young person also engaged in three onespace sessions as an interim support. Sessions with the clinician utilised acceptance and commitment therapy including psychoeducation, mindfulness, values work, behavioural activation and developing psychological flexibility. The young person engaged well in session and demonstrated good insight which assisted with their progress in therapy. The young person engaged in the activities suggested in session and practiced them in between sessions and provided feedback afterwards so that changes could be made if needed.

After 17 sessions of therapy, the young person reported that they now have a better understanding of anxiety and are better able to engage with the present moment without struggling with their emotions. The young person also identified that they are now more willing and open to trying new things, able to see different perspectives and is able to live more confidently with their anxiety. Relapse prevention planning was completed collaboratively with the young person and the clinician also encouraged the young person to reach out to eheadspace or headspace for support if required in the future.

Contents