The Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon. Scott Morrison MP visited Orygen today to announce that the Australian Government has committed to securing the future of the Early Psychosis Youth Service (EPYS) by extending the funding for existing services and supporting the establishment of two new EPYS sites.
While visiting Orygen’s Parkville facility, Prime Minister Morrison said there would be an investment of $205.8 million over three years to ensure continued supports for young people experiencing severe and complex mental ill-health through:
- extension of funding to the current EPYS sites until June 2025;
- expansion of the EPYS network through the establishment of sites in the ACT and Tasmania;
- continued funding to Orygen to support the commissioning and delivery of both the EPYS and Youth Enhanced Services (YES), and to headspace National to provide data management for the EPYS; and
- continued funding to June 2025 to Orygen, the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, to provide national guidance and policy advice on youth mental health.
Professor Patrick McGorry, executive director of Orygen, said the strongest possible international evidence available for the clinical and economic value of early intervention in mental health existed in the area of early psychosis.
“In Australia, EPYS has achieved superior outcomes for young people and their families across employment, friendships, quality of life and social connections, and demonstrated high levels of satisfaction among those accessing the services,” Professor McGorry said.
“It is critical that specific models of service that are supported by strong evidence and backed by national expertise, such as the current EPYS program, are protected and are delivered consistently across the country.
“We welcome this longer-term commitment to existing EPYS sites and the funding to establish much needed sites in the ACT and Tasmania,” he said.
Through EPYS, specialist support is provided to young people aged 12 to 25 who are experiencing, or at increased risk of developing, psychosis.
The care provided is based on the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) model developed by Orygen and focuses on early intervention, aiming to prevent disruption in a young person’s life and lessen the duration of untreated psychosis.