Student says the youth mental health service has helped her immensely
Carla Fassio is a staunch advocate for the youth mental health organisation headspace Cairns.
The Redlynch resident credits headspace Cairns with helping her cope with mental health issues.
The 18-year-old’s parents divorced when she was young and from age 11 she has been a carer for her mum at Redlynch while also spending time with her dad at Mareeba.
The university student has been a client of headspace Cairns since 2018. Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) (RFDS) is the lead agency supporting headspace Cairns with funding from Northern Queensland Primary Health Network.
“I have found it very beneficial. There is always someone to talk to about family issues and mental health issues including depression and anxiety,” Ms Fassio said.
She has developed a mental healthcare plan with her GP and regularly has one-hour sessions with a headspace psychologist. She has also joined headspace’s Youth Reference Group for fortnightly sessions, where she discusses with other like-minded young people their problems and offer solutions.
Ms Fassio said she struggled with the changing family dynamics between dad, and mum and her sister, but headspace Cairns gave her the mechanisms to cope.
She also found it hard to readjust at her old school after spending a year with her dad at Mareeba but once again headspace Cairns was there for her.
“I have been mum’s official carer since 11 and I am still her carer. The role has increased, and it has had a huge impact, especially school and on top of other issues,” Ms Fassio said.
“Caring for mum has been a huge factor and that is why I come to headspace. headspace Cairns has helped support me by providing better coping mechanisms when I can’t do things.
“It has helped me achieve my goals, including my studies at university. I’ve always wanted to go to uni from when I was a kid.”
Ms Fassio is enrolled at CQ University five-days a week, studying online, staking part in Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies (STEPS) before deciding upon either humanities or vet nursing.
She is a great believer in headspace Cairns and has suggested a regular radio program to educate the community about what the organisation offers young people.
“I really hope NQPHN (through Federal Government funding) continues to make headspace accessible for young people. It is incredibly important,” Ms Fassio said.
headspace Cairns celebrated its 10th anniversary this year with more than 7200 young people in Cairns supported to achieve better mental health outcomes.
headspace Cairns is a free and welcoming safe space for young people aged between 12 and 25 providing access, support and information for a broad range of concerns, including mental health, physical/sexual health, drug and alcohol, employment and education and support for families and carers.
The organisation had delivered more than 50,600 services to 7200 young people in Cairns since its launch in April 2012 with nine staff. The team totals 26 today.
