Five years of planning, preparation, fundraising and seeking donations came to fruition on Wednesday when Caring for our Port Stephens Youth (COPSY) launched its mental health service at Shoal Bay Country Club.
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Called Jupiter - A Space to Talk, the new community-based service offers free treatment to young people aged 12 to 18 years.
COPSY has created a safe space for youths in Tomaree Library and Community Centre in Salamander Bay to comfortably seek help for mental health issues.
"The problems associated with youth mental illnesses have been widely reported but we decided to commission Newcastle University to research into the issue which confirmed just what we feared ... that the Port Stephens youth needs were not being met," COPSY vice-president Geoffrey Basser previously told the Examiner.
A $53,000 grant from Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation enabled the fit-out of the space with support from Port Stephens Council.
COPSY has employed a counsellor and three registered psychologists for Jupiter, who will be available to speak with at the Library space after school hours, 3pm to 7pm.
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