The closure of 198 Youth Health Centre due to a lack of funding is a sad loss for young people in Christchurch.

"The centre has been operating for 15 years and provided a place where young people could access mental health services in an environment that was specifically for them," says Mental Health Commission Chair Dr Peter McGeorge.

The Mental Health Commission is very supportive of a 'one stop shop' approach for youth health, because recent research has proven them to be very effective. In 2009 the Ministry of Health conducted an evaluation of this approach, which showed positive results and reinforced the positive findings of the Commission in 2008.

"In terms of primary mental healthcare the traditional PHOs are not always attractive to youth. Our evaluation found that the one stop shop approach was less likely to be embarrassing for youth and therefore they were more inclined to access the mental healthcare services." says Dr McGeorge.

Mental health research shows that the younger a person identifies their mental health issue there is a greater likelihood of successful management and wellness.

198 Youth Health Centre provided free sexual, mental health and GP services for young people and the Commission hopes that another one stop shop centre could be re-established in Christchurch very quickly.

"Services like 198 Youth Health Centre work within a youth framework at a time in a young person's life when they are more likely to be involved in risk-taking behaviours. Attitudes and behaviours established during a person's adolescence influence and impact them for the rest of their lives - their good health is important for our community's future," Dr McGeorge said.