Youth Mental Health Service will provide young people from 16 to 24 years of age with accessible mental health services that are youth friendly and supported by strong collaborative partnerships to achieve the best health, wellbeing and quality of life for young South Australians.

The shared statewide vision is that every contact strengthens a young person’s wellbeing, mental fitness and engagement with life.

Youth Mental Health Service aims to better engage young people and work with them to develop the skills and supports they need to manage mental health distress and enjoy the best health possible.

Services offered

Youth Mental Health Service provides a range of services to young people with mental health issues, including:

  • mental health assessment and care planning
  • individual therapy
  • group work
  • family work
  • trauma informed care
  • medical care including medication initiation/ review
  • Care Coordination (as appropriate) where there are a number of non-government and primary care services involved.
  • in-reach to in-patient facilities
  • in-patient care including step-down care
  • physical assessment
  • alcohol and other drugs assessment
  • co-care with GPs, partner agencies and other service providers
  • consultation and liaison services to support youth and community services
  • referrals to other services/agencies as appropriate
  • metabolic monitoring.

Youth mental health services are offered across all South Australian Local Health Networks (LHNs).

Age of person being referred

Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) accepts referrals for young people from the age of 18 years. Referrals are accepted for young people from the age of 16 by:

  • The Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN),
  • Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN),
  • Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network (BHFLHN),
  • Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN),
  • Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network (RMCLHN),
  • Flinders and Upper North Local Health Network (FUNLHN),
  • Yorke and Northern Local Health Network (YNLHN),
  • Eyre and Far North Local Health Network (EFNLHN)

Access

Young people can access Youth Mental Health Services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 13 14 65

Young people living in country South Australia can contact Youth Mental Health Services through:

Regional community mental health services

Contact the following during business hours:

Emergency Triage and Liaison Service

Contact 13 14 65, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Country Referral Unit

Call 1800 003 307 during business hours only

Headspace - Youth services

Headspace centres are located across metropolitan, regional and rural areas of Australia. Each centre can help with mental health, physical health (including sexual health), alcohol and other drug or work and study issues.

The Centres run a number of programs for young people including the Youth Early Psychosis Programme (hYEPP). For further information, visit Headspace.

Youth helplines

Youth helplines and 24 hour e-mental health supports