Is headspace making a difference to young people’s lives?

Contents
Executive Summary 1
1. Introduction 8
1.1 headspace background 8
1.2 Evaluation background 9
1.3 Report structure 10
2. Evaluation Methodology 11
2.1 Aims of the evaluation 11
2.2 Evaluation data sources 11
2.3 Evaluation methods 12
2.4 Statistical analysis techniques 14
2.5 Evaluation limitations 16
2.6 Evaluation ethics 17
3. Access and Engagement with Centres 18
3.1 What is the current demand for headspace services? 18
3.2 What is the profile of young people accessing headspace services?
Which groups are over/ under-represented? 19
3.3 What facilitates and hinders young people’s engagement with
headspace services? 29
3.4 How do parents/carers facilitate or hinder young people’s access to
and engagement with headspace services? 35
3.5 How are headspace services provided to young people in remote
or regional areas? What facilitates and hinders the provision of
extended services? 38
3.6 How does headspace increase awareness of mental health literacy
among young people? To what extent have the number and type of
young people accessing mental health services changed? 39
4. Outcomes of headspace Clients 41
4.1 How do young people’s outcomes change after using headspace
services? 42
4.2 How do the outcomes of young people using headspace services
differ from the outcomes of young people not using headspace
services? 59
4.3 According to clients, service providers and parents/carers, how and
why has headspace contributed to/not contributed to changes in
client outcomes (across four outcomes areas)? 66
4.4 Summary 72
Social Policy Research Centre 2015
headspace Evaluation Final Report
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