News & Events

The state government is shutting down Victoria's only 24-hour mental health helpline, provoking outrage from mental health providers. The move is detailed in a leaked departmental email obtained by The Age, which states that the ''decision is based on a government commitment to consolidate investment in the front end of the mental health service system''.

An additional 1200 young people will receive specialised mental health treatment under an ambitious Victorian government bid to expand former Australian of the Year Patrick McGorry's early psychosis model across the state. At present about 200 people aged 15 to 24 receive treatment after an initial episode of psychosis at the sole such facility in Australia, Orygen Youth Health in Parkville, where Professor McGorry is director.

Excessive video gamers may have higher levels of anxiety and depression, according to preliminary studies at Victoria University. Video gaming researcher Daniel Loton is conducting a global study comparing academic results, relationships and physical and mental health in excessive gamers – who spent on average more than 33 hours a week playing video games – with more balanced players who devoted 21 hours to the pursuit.

Education Minister Martin Dixon has ordered an investigation after schools registered "a spate of alerts" about the mental health of students during VCE exams last month. Department officials have found that, on average, one Victorian student attempts suicide each week of the school year.

Stressed, suicidal or bullied? Help could be a mouse click away for young people under revolutionary proposals being considered by a world-first research project. Nineteen young Australians have been hand-picked to join mental health and wellbeing experts and technologists in the work which is being called a game-changer.

Alan Howe of the Herald Sun writes: It's one of the biggest public health issues, but you won't read about it. That's because newspapers have agreed to a unique code of silence. Are we right?