headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation will be donating $50,000 to the Townsville headspace centre to provide additional mental health services for young people, their families and friends affected by the floods.
$35,000 will be allocated towards counselling services and staff with the remaining $15,000 earmarked for the headspace Townsville Youth Reference Group to undertake community engagement activities with local young people.
The injection of funds means that access to mental health services for flood affected young people will become easier with more clinical staff and tailored outreach programs.
headspace CEO, Jason Trethowan, said young people will get the support and help they need from headspace with increased clinical services, school information sessions to help build coping strategies and animal assisted therapy.
"On behalf of headspace nationally, we are devastated that Townsville and the surrounding communities are suffering so greatly. We want to assure young people and their families and friends that their mental health is our number one priority. We are committed to ensuring access to information and services during this challenging time," he said.
headspace Centre Manager, Kristen Seymour, said many young people in boarding schools are experiencing additional stress as they are away from families who are flood affected in the Northern and Western Regions.
"We are hoping to provide support to these young people in boarding school environments by delivering educational programs accompanied by our trained and accredited therapy dogs," she said.
"With this generous donation, we will be able to reach more young people and make sure that their mental health is taken care of."
headspace Youth Reference Group member, Rebel Adamson, said most young people have never experienced an event of this scale.
"Something like this can be hard to process with many young people feeling isolated and unsure. With these funds we hope to reach a variety of youth and give them some hope while Townsville rebuilds."
headspace Townsville will be participating in a number of activities later this month including a parent information night planned for 28 February.
