Breaking barriers – a new lifeline for Brisbane’s vulnerable youth

Brisbane’s most vulnerable young people often face complex and intersecting challenges. Many are at risk of homelessness while also dealing with domestic and family violence or high-risk drug or alcohol use. In some circumstances, they may also be supporting their own children.

Brisbane North PHN identified a pressing need for marginalised young people to have better access to specialist mental healthcare.

In response, Brisbane Youth Service’s (BYS) Specialised Mental Health Service was launched in July 2024 and is already making a difference. It provides tailored, immediate mental health support to vulnerable young people aged 12 to 25 – some with children and most at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

Commissioned by Brisbane North PHN, the service is led by a multidisciplinary team providing psychiatric, psychological and medical care. It offers free mental health assessments, ongoing therapeutic care, and tailored support.

‘This is an innovative service for a cohort of highly vulnerable and at-risk young people, who are often not seen,’ explained Team Leader Peter Melrose. ‘It’s a critical support hub for marginalised youth.

‘Poor mental health is often a pathway to homelessness for young people, while those with unstable housing often face barriers to accessing affordable mental healthcare. This service removes those barriers and provides holistic support to safely manage young people’s complex mental health needs.’

Increasing demand for support underscores the program’s impact

The Specialised Mental Health Service helped 66 young people in the 2024/25 financial year, 29 per cent of whom identified as First Nations. There has been increasing demand for support since the service launched, with 300 per cent more young people engaging with the program in the last three months compared to the first quarter.

After the first year of service delivery, 87.5 per cent of consumers said they were ‘happy’ or ‘super happy’ with the support they had received.

The model has been effective because of its holistic approach and strong collaboration between service providers, mental health and other health services for these young people. BYS leverages their long-standing and trusted relationships with young people and the health and homelessness system. This ensures that young people can access coordinated support for complex challenges under one roof, including housing, health, alcohol and other drug use, and domestic and family violence.

Amplifying BYS’s positive support for young people

The program operates from BYS’s expanded medical clinic and integrated Youth Support Centre in Fortitude Valley, amplifying the impact of BYS’s existing services. In 2023–24, 58 per cent of young people who engaged with BYS had a diagnosed mental health condition. Despite the challenges, 71 per cent reported improvements in their mental health after receiving support.

Paul Moran, BYS’s Clinical Health Services Director, said: ‘This model has been pivotal in achieving positive mental health and wellbeing outcomes for young people who might otherwise fall through the gaps in the system. It provides the necessary foundation of trust and psychological safety, which immediately reduces acute suffering in young people with complex needs.’