To the Editor: An MJA perspective by Kisely and Looi claims to cast doubt on the effectiveness of headspace,1 but we contend this is an incomplete, and at times inaccurate, critique of Australia's reform in youth mental health through the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, headspace.
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- 1. Kisely S, Looi JCL. Latest evidence casts further doubt on the effectiveness of headspace. Med J Aust 2022; 217: 388‐390. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2022/217/8/latest‐evidence‐casts‐further‐doubt‐effectiveness‐headspace
- 2. Hilferty F, Cassells R, Muir K, et al. Is headspace making a difference to young people's lives? Final Report of the independent evaluation of the headspace program (SPRC Report 08/2015). Sydney: Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Australia, 2015. https://headspace.org.au/assets/Uploads/Evaluation‐of‐headspace‐program.pdf (viewed Mar 2023).
- 3. Muir K, Powell A, Patulny R, et al. Independent evaluation of headspace: the National Youth Mental health Foundation. Sydney: Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales, 2009. https://headspace.org.au/assets/Uploads/Corporate/Publications‐and‐research/final‐independent‐evaluation‐of‐headspace‐report.pdf (viewed Mar 2023).
- 4. KPMG. Evaluation of the national headspace program. Final Report to Department of Health. Sydney: KPMG, 2022. https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2022/10/evaluation‐of‐the‐national‐headspace‐program.pdf (viewed Mar 2023).
- 5. Rickwood DJ, Telford NR, Mazzer K, et al. Changes in psychological distress and psychosocial functioning for young people accessing headspace centres for mental health problems. Med J Aust 2015; 202: 573‐542. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2015/202/10/changes‐psychological‐distress‐and‐psychosocial‐functioning‐young‐people
- 6. Bassilios B, Telford N, Rickwood D, et al. Complementary primary mental health programs for young people in Australia: Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) and headspace. Int J Mental Health Syst 2017; 11: 19.
- 7. Rickwood D, McEachran J, Saw A, et al. Sixteen years of innovation in youth mental healthcare in Australia: outcomes for young people attending headspace centre services [preprint]. MedRXiv 25 Aug 2022; https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.08.24.22279102 (viewed Apr 2023).
- 8. Productivity Commission. Mental health: inquiry report, volume 2 (Report No. 95). Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 2020. https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/mental‐health/report/mental‐health‐volume2.pdf (viewed Apr 2023).
- 9. Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System. Final report, volume 1: A new approach to mental health and wellbeing in Victoria (PP No. 202, Session 2018–21 (document 2 of 6). Melbourne: State of Victoria, 2021. https://finalreport.rcvmhs.vic.gov.au/wp‐content/uploads/2021/02/RCVMHS_FinalReport_Vol1_Accessible.pdf (viewed Apr 2023).
- 10. McGorry PD, Tanti C, Stokes R, et al. headspace: Australia's National Youth Mental Health Foundation — where young minds come first. Med J Aust 2007; 187: S68‐S70. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2007/187/7/headspace‐australias‐national‐youth‐mental‐health‐foundation‐where‐young‐minds
- 11. Hetrick SE, Bailey AP, Smith KE, et al. Integrated (one‐stop shop) youth health care: best available evidence and future directions. Med J Aust 2017; 207(10 Suppl): S5‐S18. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2017/207/10/integrated‐one‐stop‐shop‐youth‐health‐care‐best‐available‐evidence‐and‐future
- 12. McGorry PD, Mei C, Chanen A, et al. Designing and scaling up integrated youth mental health care. World Psychiatry 2022; 21: 61‐76.
- 13. Kwan B, Rickwood DJ, Telford NR. Development and validation of MyLifeTracker: a routine outcome measure for youth mental health. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2018; 11: 67‐77.
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Headspace is funded by the Australian Government.
Debra Rickwood is seconded from her university as Chief Scientific Advisor to headspace. Jason Trethowan is CEO of headspace. Patrick McGorry is founder of headspace and Director on the headspace board.