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
- Assessment
- Intensive case management and psychosocial support
- Assertive outreach
- Evidence based counselling, psychotherapy and psycho-education
- Consultative advice and support to other agencies including collaborative clinical interventions and projects
- Training and consultation for other services working with at-risk youth.
Referral information for Youth Axis and YouthLink
- An integrated triage and entry process exist between YouthLink and Youth Axis
- Type referral details in an Electronic Referral form (Word) and send to the service by email
- Hand write referral details in this Referral form (PDF) which needs to be printed, scanned and sent to the service by email
- Referrals / triage phone: 1300 362 569
- Email referral form to: youthmhtriage@health.wa.gov.au
- Fax referral form to: (08) 9287 5762
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:
| Meets all criteria: | Plus either: |
|---|---|
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
- Assessment
- Evidence based counselling, skills-based therapy and psycho-education
- Psychosocial support
- Outreach
- Transitional support
- Consultative advice and support to other agencies including collaborative clinical interventions and projects.
Referral information for Youth Axis and YouthLink
- An integrated triage and entry process exist between YouthLink and Youth Axis
- Type referral details in an Electronic Referral form (Word) and send to the service by email
- Hand write referral details in this Referral form (PDF) which needs to be printed, scanned and sent to the service by email
- Referrals / triage phone: 1300 362 569
- Email referral form to: youthmhtriage@health.wa.gov.au
- Fax referral form to: (08) 9287 5762
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?
Young people:
- Aged 16-24 years who are experiencing an acute phase of mental illness and require short-term support (up to 14 days)
- Low to moderate risk
- Residing in the North Metropolitan Mental Health Catchment Areas and have stable accommodation
- Able to give consent and are willing to accept Youth-HITH as an alternative to hospital.
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:
- Referral form (Word)
- Referrals/Triage phone: 0427 160 426
- Email referral form to: youth.hith@health.wa.gov.au
- Fax referral form to: (08) 9347 6388
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:
- Specialist assessments to ascertain diagnosis and suitability for gender affirming medical interventions for gender diverse youth, aged between 17 and 24 years, presenting with:
- complex mental health/neurodevelopmental disorders AND/OR
- having experienced significant barriers to accessing gender affirming care.
- Referral for ongoing mental health and psychosocial support for youth with gender issues.
- Consultation to mental health providers, professional bodies and organisations around issues relating to gender diverse youth.
- Education and training in the youth sector to increase inclusive and gender affirming practices.
- Peer consultation and education to develop capacity to complete assessment for readiness for gender affirming medical interventions.
- Peer education and consultation to mental health service staff to support the management of young people with gender issues who also present with mental health and/or neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Development of psychoeducational resources/support materials related to social and medical gender transition.
Note: The GPS does not provide ongoing mental health support or case management. A referral to a Youth Mental Health service, in addition to a referral to the GPS, would be advised if the young person is likely to require ongoing mental health support and meets the criteria for YouthLink, YouthReach South or Youth Axis.
Assessment follows the World Professional Association for Transgender Health standards of care guidelines.
Admission Criteria for Assessment
- 17-24 years of age (inclusive)
- Gender questioning /gender-diverse identity
- Seeking assessment to determine suitability for readiness for medical intervention/s to address gender dysphoria. Gender dysphoria refers to the distress that may accompany the incongruence between an individual’s experienced or expressed gender and their sex assigned at birth
- Presenting with co-occurring complex mental health and/or neurodevelopmental concerns, AND/OR
- Experiencing heightened distress due to facing significant barriers to accessing assessment needed to pursue gender affirming medical interventions
- Must be experiencing significant barriers in accessing these assessments elsewhere.
Exclusion Criteria
- Is eligible for/is a current client of the Gender Diversity Service at Perth Children’s Hospital.
- Has capacity to/is accessing private psychiatry/mental health services that can complete assessment
- Currently accessing gender-affirming hormone therapy (not applicable if the young person is seeking assessment for surgery).
Referral information for Gender Pathways Service
- Referral form (Word)
- Email referral form to GPS at YouthMHTriage@health.wa.gov.au
- Fax referral for to: (08) 9328 5911
Contact us
Tel: (08) 9227 4300
Fax: (08) 9328 5911
Hours: 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday
Location: 223 James Street, Northbridge WA 6003
NMHS Youth Community Assessment and Treatment Team (YCATT)
YCATT provides an intensive community outreach service for young people aged 16 to 24 years, with emerging and/or exacerbation of symptoms of potentially severe or complex mental health disorders.
The service delivers community-based triage, assessment and intensive short-term management for up to 12 weeks for young people in the North Metropolitan Health Service Mental Health (NMHS MH) catchment area.
YCATT provides a specialist youth multidisciplinary team offering person-centred, trauma-informed, acute mental health care that promotes strengths and a recovery focus in partnership with families, carers, other youth services and non-government organisations (NGOs).
Phase 2
Referrals are accepted for young people aged 16 to 24 years within the NMHS MH catchment area who:
- Are experiencing an acute phase of mental illness
- Have emerging symptoms of a potentially severe / complex mental health disorder
- Are not responding well to treatment for mental illness by their GP or other mental health service provider
- Are experiencing acute risk that is unable to be contained by their existing service provider
- Have a severe and complex mental health concern that would benefit from a multidisciplinary team
- Have symptoms of a potentially severe / complex mental health disorder that requires coordination of care across multiple agencies, family / carers and health / support services
- Are not already receiving treatment from a Community Adult Assessment and Treatment Team (ATT), Continuing Treatment Team (CTT) or CAMHS or have previously received treatment from an adult CCT.
YCATT is not suitable for young people who:
- Are seeking diagnosis or management of a neurodevelopmental disorder (e.g. intellectual disability, ASD, ADHD) in the absence of a comorbid mental illness
- Are primarily seeking management of a substance use disorder
- Are primarily seeking management of an eating disorder
- Are being managed on a Community Treatment Order or treated with a depot medication.
Referral sources and information
- Referral form (Printable PDF) | Referral form (Electronic PDF)
- We are accepting referrals from all sources, including health service providers, general practitioners, NGOs, schools / education providers, Department of Communities, psychologists, hospitals, families, friends and individuals, as well as self-referring.
- For more information or to discuss a potential referral, please contact our triage officer via (08) 6382 3700.
Contact us
Tel: (08) 6382 3700
Email: ycatt.nmhstriage@health.wa.gov.au
Hours: 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday
Location: 20 Brown Street, East Perth, 6004