Kara Cook (Bonner, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

There is no greater investment we can make in Australia's future than investing in the mental health and wellbeing of our young people. When young Australians are supported early and close to home, they thrive, and so do our communities. In my electorate of Bonner, there are over 2½ thousand young people under the age of 25 experiencing ongoing mental health conditions. It is critical that we have local services that can meet this growing need and support our growing population. That is why the Albanese Labor government is delivering new, enhanced and expanded free mental health services for young people, including in Bonner.

Last week, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Emma McBride and I toured headspace in Capalaba, a federally funded youth mental health service providing free support to young people across Redland City and across my electorate of Bonner. I'm so proud to say that, as part of the government's additional $72.7 million investment to strengthen headspace nationwide, headspace Capalaba is receiving an almost $800,000 funding boost. No-one should suffer in silence. I will continue to advocate for the mental health supports in our community that our young people deserve.

See this speech in context