Mental Health Tasmania chief executive officer Connnie Digolis said St Helens had been flagged as a problem area.

She said effective access to services was not ideal and more effective phone and online services providing early intervention were needed.

"It's not necessarily about going to a physical service ... I think we need to start thinking more innovatively than we have in the past," Ms Digolis said.

Leanne McMurtrie runs a private practice counselling service on the East Coast and said while phone and online services were particularly effective for preventive measures, teens need to know they have choices and can access "on the ground" resources when needed.

"There is a need for face-to-face services and continuity in services so both the young people accessing the service and people referring to those services can trust they'll be there when needed," she said.

Various outreach programs service the East Coast, but by the time trusting relationships are built, funding is often cut, lending the programs to serve more as Band-Aid-type solutions.

Trish O'Duffy is the manager of St Helens Neighbourhood House and reiterated that long-term solutions were needed.

"It needs to be permanent. Earlier this year, we had access to a youth and family early intervention worker and child and adolescent counsellor for six weeks and then funding was pulled," she said.

"This raised expectations and we were left worse off than before."

A Mental Health Action Group comprised of local service providers and community members is lobbying for more support for the community.

"We had a six-week backlog for months. We are pleased that we now have psychology services available four days a week - I've been informed that the wait list has been dealt with," Ms O'Duffy said.

"Let's hope that funding for this service is ongoing."

From 2016, the government will provide $3 million over two years for a study into the health needs of Break O'Day and North-East Tasmania.