Headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds.
Headspace centres act as a one-stop shop for young people who need help with mental health, physical health (including sexual health), alcohol and other drugs or work and study support.
Our 100+ centres across Australia are designed not just for young people, but with them, to ensure they are relevant, accessible and highly effective. As a result, no two headspace centres are the same, each offering unique services that reflect the needs of its local community.
Services Offered
At the heart of Headspace centres is ensuring young people can access expert health workers in a safe, confidential and youth-friendly environment.
Centres services are free (or low cost) and provide support for:
Mental health - Clinical mental health professionals are available to provide support, treatment and management plans for a variety of mental health concerns.
Physical and sexual health - Many centres have on-site GP’s who provide young people with a safe, confidential and judgement-free place to seek medical advice and treatment.
Alcohol and other drugs - From providing information to treating addiction, our alcohol and drug counsellors are available to address the complexities of alcohol and drug issues.
Work and study - Counsellors and vocational workers are available to assist with a range of life skills, such as managing workloads, dealing with stress, preparing job applications and career planning.
Fees and Payment
Services are either free or low cost.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.
