RACGP says GPs must be part of new youth mental health services

RACGP says GPs must be part of new youth mental health services

14 Jul 2026

The college has made the call as part of a Federal Government consultation on major changes to youth mental health support.

The Government plans to create 30 expanded headspace Plus services and 20 new Youth Specialist Care Centres (YSCCs). These services will provide free mental health care for people aged 12–25 who have more complex mental health needs.

The changes are part of a Federal Government investment of more than $700 million aimed at helping young people who need regular support but do not qualify for hospital-level or specialist tertiary care.

In its submission, the RACGP says young people with complex mental health conditions often need long-term care, and this is frequently provided through their usual GP. The college warns that services operating separately from general practice could lead to fragmented care, repeated assessments and unclear responsibility between providers.

The RACGP says the new services should work closely with a young person’s regular GP and include clear communication, written updates and named contact points for referring doctors.

The college also says the proposed Youth Specialist Care Centres will support young people with early psychosis, eating disorders, personality-related conditions and other complex mental health presentations. It warns that these centres could become overwhelmed if there are not enough follow-up and step-down care options available.

The submission highlights Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people as a priority group and says the new services should clearly explain how they will work with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations.

Mental health concerns among young Australians have increased sharply over the past two decades. Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows that 38.8% of people aged 16–24 experienced a mental disorder in the previous 12 months during 2020–22, compared with 26% in 2007.

The locations for the new headspace Plus services have already been announced. Eight Youth Specialist Care Centres will be converted from existing Early Psychosis Youth Services, and 12 additional centres will be established. The services are expected to begin operating from 2027–28, with all centres planned to be running by 2029–30.

RACGP says GPs must be part of new youth mental health services

Source: RACGP / newsGP
 

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