A new mobile-enabled website will make it even easier for teenagers and young adults to get support when and where they need it for issues such as bullying, depression, anxiety and relationship breakups.
Headspace is Australia's only youth- specific online mental health service staffed exclusively by qualified clinicians.
Launching the new website eheadspace, Headspace CEO Chris Tanti said the changes recognised that an increasing number of young people were accessing the online world through their mobile devices.
“The most recent figures show that more than three quarters of 18-25 year olds now access the Internet via their mobile devices and a third surf the web on an iPad or other tablet,” Mr Tanti said.
“These numbers will only go up. Headspace understands these trends and we are improving our services to ensure that we’re supporting young people via the channels they are using.”
Mr Tanti said eheadspace had grown rapidly since it was established 18 months ago, with around 18,000 young people now registered for the service, which offers free support to 12-25 year olds via instant messaging, email and over the telephone.
The new website allows young people to receive support via their iPhone, iPad or Android device and a range of other innovations, including a virtual waiting room with YouTube videos and reading material to entertain and inform young people while they wait for their appointment.
Mr Tanti said eheadspace was all about creating a service that young people wanted to come to by making it as accessible and youth-friendly as possible.
“If you are a young person, you need to know that headspace will be there for you wherever you are,” Mr Tanti said.