The youth enhanced support service western sydney: a case study

Youth Enhanced Services (YES) across Australia support young people experiencing complex mental health challenges. While data is routinely collected from young people accessing YES programs, these outcome measures provide limited insights into the impact of YES services. There is a need to better understand who engages with YES, what activities are delivered, and their impact on young people, families, and systems. This report provides a case study of one YES program in New South Wales, known as the Youth Enhanced Support Service: Western Sydney (YESS WS), by analysing service data and conducting interviews with service providers, young people, and families, carers and supporters. The findings highlight impacts on young people not otherwise captured by routine data sets, in relation to improved mental wellbeing, functioning, relationships, connection to identity, empowerment, self-understanding and help-seeking for the future. Further findings also cover the key strengths of the YESS WS program, its impacts on families and the healthcare system, and key challenges for the program with opportunities for improvement.