The project, run in collaboration with Cornerstone Youth Services and The Link Youth Health Service, will analyse enablers and barriers for 12 to 25 year olds in accessing services.

Launceston-based project officer Jozie de Deuge said it was hoped the research would identify why young people delayed seeking assistance. Consultation with young people, stakeholders and mental health service staff has been conducted.

“We’ve talked to a few young people … some of them have said they didn’t know if their problem was severe enough … young people might not know the symptoms of when their mental health is getting to the stage where they should seek help,” she said. 

Identifying why people do or don’t seek help, and factors contributing to prematurely deserting treatment before achieving outcomes were among findings the project was pursuing, she said. 

“We’re wanting to get these young people at an early intervention stage, so when the problem might not be too big,” she said.

“So what we’re trying to do [is to analyse], how do we get these young people to come into a mental health service at that stage … we’re finding lots of people might wait until the crisis stage so it’s getting really hard.”

She said encouraging young people to seek help early and stay engaged with services was important. 

“Just figuring out what services can do to better support young people [is an objective],” Mrs de Deuge said. 

She said the research project component had recently started and it was hoped the findings would be made available mid-year. 

Clinical health psychologist Dr Heather Bridgman said mental disorders were one of the most common conditions affecting children and adolescents, but statistics showed only half of those impacted accessed the services they needed.

“There is limited information available from young people about their experiences … so we would particularly like to speak to people who might have thought about accessing a service but haven’t, those who have accessed a service and stayed with that service or tried a service and left,” Dr Bridgman said. 

The project is recruiting Tasmanians aged between 12 and 25, parents and carers to discuss their experiences with mental health services.To participate, call 0476 436 196 or email Josephine.dedeuge@utas.edu.au