Youth Mental Health

NMHS Mental Health, Public Health and Dental Services (MHPHDS) Youth Mental Health work collaboratively to provide a range of services to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people across Perth.

The WA Mental Health Commission (WA MHC) defines youth as aged 16 to 24. Youth Mental Health works closely with Adult Mental Health Services and Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services to provide mental health services to young people with serious mental health disorders within the youth age cohort.

Youth Mental Health services are outlined below:

YouthLink

YouthLink is a specialist mental health service providing counselling, therapy and case management to young people aged 13-24 years in the north metropolitan area with significant mental health problems and barriers to accessing mainstream services. Barriers typically include homelessness and transience, limited support networks, cultural barriers including Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders, identity and marginalisation due to diverse sexuality and gender.

YouthLink provides a welcoming, trauma-informed, flexible approach with assertive outreach to support engagement. Services are provided by clinical psychologists, social workers, clinical nurses and Aboriginal mental health practitioners, with limited psychiatry services also available.

Services offered

Referral information for Youth Axis and YouthLink

Contact us

Tel: (08) 9227 4300
Hours: 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday
Location: 223 James Street, Northbridge WA 6003

YouthReach South

As of July 1 YouthReach South has moved to the South Metropolitan Health Service (external site).

Youth Axis

Youth Axis provides an early intervention service for young people presenting with ultra-high risk of psychosis and/or features of an emotionally unstable personality disorder. Youth Axis targets young people who have not had extensive treatment by a specialist mental health service for these presenting problems, and will see people for up to six months.

The following criteria must be met to be eligible for service:

Exclusion criteria:

Ultra-high risk of psychosis. Unusual and out of character thoughts and / or behaviour.

or:

Features of an emotionally unstable personality disorder (which include a combination of):

Services offered

Referral information for Youth Axis and YouthLink

Contact us

Tel: (08) 9287 5700
Fax: (08) 9287 5760
Hours: 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday
Location: 32-34 Salvado Road, Wembley WA 6014

Youth Hospital in the Home (Youth-HITH)

Youth Hospital in the Home (Youth-HITH) is an eight-bed service that provides short term intensive management for up to 14 days in the patient’s home or usual place of residence that would otherwise be delivered within a hospital as an admitted inpatient.

The service model is based on the principles of the National Framework for Recovery-Oriented Mental Health Services relating to patient-focused service delivery and Trauma Informed Care. Care and treatment offered is patient-centred, with carer/family collaboration, multidisciplinary, comprehensive and collaborative. The multidisciplinary team consists of a Consultant Psychiatrist, Medical Officer, Mental Health Nurses, and Allied Health staff. Youth-HITH clinicians work in partnership with the individual and their families or carers to provide intensive support, education and guidance to all parties. Where possible, clinicians work with the patient’s general practitioner (GP) and other service providers to enable maximum communication and continuity of care.

How the service operates

Clinicians conduct the initial assessment interview in the most appropriate environment, in collaboration with the consumer, their family or carer and other services as required. An agreed treatment plan is developed, which includes a crisis plan.

Clinicians visit the home every day to review and monitor treatment and progress. Counselling and information is typically provided to the consumer or carer on a daily basis to help develop a better understanding of the illness experience and to improve existing coping skills. Youth-HITH patients may also have a psychiatry/medication review in the home if indicated.

Who is eligible?

Who can refer?

Young people may be referred from specialised mental health inpatient units, Inpatient services, Community Mental Health Teams, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Adult Community Mental Health Services, Youth Mental Health, Emergency Departments and private Psychiatrists.

Referral information for Youth Hospital in the Home:

Contact us

Tel: (08) 6159 6436
Fax: (08) 6159 6388
Hours: 8am to 8.30pm Monday to Sunday
Location: Gascoyne House, Mt Claremont WA 6010

Youth and Adult Complex Attentional Disorders Service (YACADS)

Youth and Adult Complex Attentional Disorders Service (YACADS) is a consultation and liaison service for youth or adult Community Mental Health Services (CMHS).

We provide specialist consultation, assessments, and treatment for individuals with a history of complex attention and hyperactivity symptoms and co-occurring Axis 1 or Axis 2 diagnosed mental health conditions. We work with youth and adults currently under long-term case management by a youth or adult public CMHS (i.e., Continuing Treatment Team).

Please note: We operate Monday and Tuesday, and do not provide emergency medical or mental health services.

Contact us

Tel: (08) 9227 4300
Fax: (08) 9328 5911
Email: YACADS@health.wa.gov.au
Location: 223 James Street, Northbridge WA 6003
Nearest car park: Wilson Parking 217 James Street and CPP James Street
Nearest train stations: Perth (1km walk) and City West (1.1km walk)
Nearest bus stop: Fitzgerald Street (Stop No: 12819; 242m walk)

Gender Pathways Service (GPS)

The Gender Pathways Service (GPS) within YouthLink can be accessed state-wide and provides specialist gender diversity consultation, training, community development, referral information and assessment for suitability and readiness for gender affirming medical treatment such as hormones and/or surgery.

Transgender and gender diverse youth are at elevated risk of suicide, self-harm, homelessness and other mental health and psychosocial difficulties. The GPS aims to improve the mental, social, and physical health outcomes for gender diverse youth by increasing capacity within services to provide gender-affirming care and to facilitate access to medical interventions to address gender dysphoria through specialist assessment.

The GPS provides: