Australia’s first comprehensive research centre focused on mental health from birth to 25 years has been launched today in Perth.
Embrace @ The Kids brings together researchers, clinicians, service providers and the community in a collaborative effort to find new strategies and tools to address alarming rates of mental health issues in children and young people.
The Kids Research Institute Australia Director Professor Jonathan Carapetis said it was clear that despite the best efforts of many, there had been little progress in improving the mental health of young people in Western Australia.
“Suicide is the leading cause of death of young people in WA, and we are seeing alarming levels of anxiety and self-harm in our kids,” Professor Carapetis said.
“We need new strategies and tools, because we can’t keep doing what we’re doing and expect a different result.”
Professor Carapetis said Embrace would take a unique, life-course approach to youth mental health.
“What’s different about Embrace is that we’re looking right from early childhood through to early adulthood, so that we can make sure to identify mental health issues where they start,” he said.
“We need early identification and intervention strategies so kids can enjoy a happy childhood and a mentally healthy future.”
By age 15, 50 per cent of mental disorders have already begun. This increases to 75 per cent by age 25.
Mental health researcher and Co-Lead of Embrace Dr Ashleigh Lin said she was very encouraged by how quickly the mental health community had got on board with the Embrace initiative.
“A community approach is critical to answer some of the big questions around child and youth mental health,” Dr Lin said.
“We already have really strong connections with the community and community agencies. This will ensure our research is translated into real-world impacts in a timely manner for children and young people.”
Embrace will initially focus its efforts on knowledge gaps in seven key areas:
- Suicide and self-harm
- Trauma
- Depression and anxiety
- Bullying
- Supporting families
- Taking care of our most vulnerable
- Navigating the mental health system
AFL player Nic Naitanui and Parenting author Maggie Dent will lead a public awareness and fundraising campaign to support Embrace.
The campaign asks people to post a photograph or video of their younger self using the hashtag #supportembrace and to share a story of healing and hope to show support for our young people who may be going through tough times.
Tax deductible donations to the research can be made at supportembrace.org.au.
