Mental health service an Australian first

Australia's first National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health is adding "tremendous value" to youth mental health services, its executive director says.

The Orygen Youth Health Research Centre in Melbourne has received $18 million federal funding over four years for the centre which is set to become a world-leading research organisation, says Professor Patrick McGorry, a former Australian of the Year.

"This is building and taking to another level something that has already been created ... giving it a national mandate, strengthening its capacity to conduct research and also strengthening its ability to train and support new workforces in youth mental health," he said.

"It's a key building block."

Health Minister Peter Dutton said the launch on Wednesday was a major step towards boosting mental health support to the same level of support given to physical health conditions like cancer.