Mental Health Services for Teens in Brisbane

Mental health is a crucial concern for teenagers, and it’s especially important for parents and caregivers to seek out professional support when needed. There are numerous mental health services for teens in Brisbane that offer tailored assistance for a wide range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, stress, and more. In this blog post, we will provide a comprehensive guide to the mental health services available to teenagers in Brisbane and how you can access them. Our goal is to equip parents and caregivers with the knowledge and resources they need to support their teens’ mental health and help them lead fulfilling lives.

Psychology and Counselling – Private Clinics and Programs

Pathways Health and Research Centre

Pathways Health & Research Centre focuses on building people’s emotional resilience and is well known for its mental health services for teens in Brisbane. They offer individual consultations and the evidence-based Friends programs, developed by Professor Paula Barrett, for children and young adults delivered by our highly-trained Psychologists. No referral is necessary. Extended opening hours and weekend appointments. Medicare and private health insurance rebates are available.

Triple P 

Triple P stands for ‘Positive Parenting Program’. Triple P will help you as a parent to Create a stable, harmonious family environment; Teach your children the skills they need to get along with others; Deal positively, consistently and decisively with problem behaviour. The Teen Triple P Seminar Series is also available and addresses specific issues such as: Raising Responsible Teenagers; Raising Competent Teenagers, and Getting Teenagers Connected. Sessions can be held in various locations across Brisbane.

Young Minds

Young Minds Health & Development Network is a psychology clinic offering individual and group therapy to children, adolescents and adults. The psychologists at Young Minds have a diverse range of experience which enables them to provide a comprehensive service to meet the needs of all age groups. Medicare rebates are available when referred from relevant medical practitioners. No referral is required for Private Health Care rebates, however, gap fees do apply. For clients suffering financial hardship Young Minds are happy to negotiate gap fees if required.

Thinking Families 

At Thinking Families psychology and counselling, skilled help is available for a range of child, adolescent and adult issues including depression and anxiety (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Mindfulness Based Approaches) eating disorders (Maudsley Model), adolescent depression and self-harm (Attachment Based Family Therapy), and couple counselling (Emotion Focussed Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Couple Therapy). Thinking Families psychology and counselling staff are registered clinical psychologists and/or social workers. Medicare and Private Health Fund Rebates are available where applicable.

Headspace

Headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation and helps young people who are going through a tough time. Young people aged 12 to 25 who are looking for someone to talk to can get advice, support and information if they are feeling down, stressed or can’t stop worrying, can’t deal with school or are finding it difficult to concentrate, are feeling sick or worried about their health, want to cut down on their drinking or drug use, want to talk about sexuality, identity or relationships, are having difficulties with friendships, have sexual health issues or want to find out about contraception, are being bullied, hurt or harassed or are worried about work or study. headspace sites are flexible, youth-oriented centres and are located at Inala, Nundah and Ipswich. The services provided are generally free.

Psychology and Counseling – Public Clinics and Programs

• Child and Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS) uses a multidisciplinary approach to provide free specialist assessment and treatment services for infants, children, adolescents and their families who experience significant emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.  Also known as Kids in Mind, the CYMHS has community clinics as well as hospital-based services including an Adolescent Drug and Alcohol service which provides a state-wide residential detox program for young people misusing drugs.

• Project Circuit Breaker, run by Mission Australia, is a free and mobile prevention and early intervention service based in Brisbane’s northern suburbs. Supporting families with children aged 9-17 years, the program aims to help children and adolescents make positive changes in their lives.

• The Adolescent Unit at the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital provides assessment and treatment services to adolescents living in Brisbane and Central Queensland areas.  There is a close working relationship with the Child & Youth Mental Health Services (YMHS) from the adjoining Royal Children’s Hospital with a joint registrar after-hours service, consultant on-call and an Extended Hours Service.

• The Youth and Family Support Service (YFSS) is a mobile extended hours support service for ‘at risk’ young people (aged 6 to 17 years), and their families. YFSS services young people and families living in Brisbane and aims to provide early intervention and diversion services to young people at risk of entering or re-entering the youth justice statutory system and to their families. The service is funded by the Department of Communities and is free of charge.
• The Coordinated Response to Young People at Risk (CRYPAR) program is a whole-of government initiative that aims to help young people address issues often identified as contributing factors in the development of criminal, self-harming and antisocial behaviours. The program aims to assist at-risk young Queenslanders through a simple referral process which allows police officers in the field to refer young people, with their consent, to an appropriate agency which has agreed to respond within 48 hour

Mental Health Services for Teens in Brisbane (community based)

Counselling – Church-based Programs

• SAILS at Bayside is a community outreach arm of the Anglican Churches of Manly, Wynnum, Waterloo Bay and Cleveland, within the Diocese of Brisbane.  The vision of SAILS is to provide opportunities for at-risk youth to overcome their difficulties, reach their potential and engage fully in community life. They also aim to engage the local community, young people and young families and for them to enjoy time together on land and water in a safe and supportive Christian environment.

• Anglicare’s InSYNC program cares for young people aged between 12 and 18 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Counselling and mediation is available for young people and their families. These sessions may deal with family conflict, behavioural issues, communication skills or conflict with friends. If needed, counselling and support is provided to enable them young people to return to live in the family home.

Community-based Associations

• Brisbane Youth Service (BYS) is a community-based organisation that works with homeless or at-risk young people aged 12-25 years. BYS provides a community hub for young people and young families to access a holistic range of services across multiple levels of immediacy and intensity, from an immediate need such as food and showers to intensive, therapeutic and planned support that respond to their needs and help them create a new future.

• The Redcliffe Area Youth Space (aka RAYS or “the Youth Space”) is a youth service provider and a registered charity that works in the communities of Redcliffe and North Lakes. RAYS run a series of award-winning programs that focus on crime prevention programs, education and training, youth development, leadership and more. They also provide a variety of support for young people, from counselling to general youth work support to intensive support and assessment through Social Workers and Psychologists.

• The Real Teens Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers who are passionate about improving the lives of teenagers in our community.  The purpose of the organisation’s BreakFreeNOW program is to support and inspire all teenagers to ignite their inner brilliance, personal power and excellence and enhance their confidence, happiness and direction. Real Teens Foundation also aims to encourage and empower teenagers to realise, claim and grow their unique special potential and seek boundless possibilities.

• BABI Youth & Community Support aims to promote an environment in which young people can grow and participate successfully in the life of their community.  BABI’s Youth Support Coordinator program supports young people who are at risk of disengaging, or who have recently disengaged, from education. Youth Support Coordinators (YSC’s) provide direct support to help students re-engage with education. BABI YSC’s provide direct services to State Government Secondary Schools and a referral service to Private Schools throughout the Wynnum and Redlands areas.