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WA General Practice Network (WAGP Network) - Mental Health
More than one in ten of all General Practitioner consultations in Australia are for mental health related issues. Overall General Practice delivers around 10 million mental health consultations per year.
Approximately 20 percent of the Australian population will meet the criteria for a mental health problem or disorder (ABS, 1997). Only 38 percent of this group will seek professional help and of those, 75 percent seek help from their GP.
The Better Outcomes in Mental Health Initiative
The Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Initiative was introduced in 2001 to address barriers to the delivery of quality mental health care in Australia. The program comprised five components including a 3 step mental health process. At its outset, funding of $120.4 million from the Department of Health and Ageing was allocated over a four year period. The program is funded to continue until May 2009. See the following link for further information: http://www.primarymentalhealth.com.au/site/index.cfm?display=15130
The Better Access to Mental Health Care Initiative
The 'Better Access to Mental Health Care’ initiative was introduced on November 1st 2006. This initiative aims to increase community access to general practitioners, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and other allied mental health professionals who provide mental health care.
Medicare has introduced three new item numbers for GPs to refer under the Better Access initiative. They include:
1. GP Mental Health Care Plan.
2. GP Mental Health Care Plan Review.
3. GP Mental Health Care Consultation.
Better Access also provides GPs with new referral pathways.
- All GPs can refer patients who are being managed under a mental health care plan through Better Access.
- GPs can refer to Clinical Psychologists, Psychologists, Social Workers and Occupational Therapists who are registered with Medicare Australia.
- All patients who are assessed as having a Mental Disorder as defined in the MBS are eligible for services under the initiative.
- There are no mandatory training requirements to access the new GP items.
Resources for GPs
Following are the initial resources developed by AGPN to support divisions in the implementation of the Better Access to Mental Health Care Initiative:
Better Access Orientation Manual
Patient Pathways Flowchart- an explanation of GP referral options
GP Fees & Patient Rebates - an explanation of GP Fees & Patient Rebates
GP Mental Health Care Flowchart - sets out the three components in detail
Outcome measurement tools: K10, SF-12 HoNOS - visit http://www.gpcare.org/
Below are resources or links to resources developed by the Department of Health & Ageing
Mental Health Care Plan Template
Can Do Initiative
The ‘Can Do’ Initiative: Managing Mental Health and Substance Use in General Practice is a national initiative, funded through the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing as part of the National Co-morbidity Initiative. Please see the link to the Can Do web page. http://www.primarymentalhealth.com.au/site/index.cfm?display=15142
Headspace
Headspace is Australia’s new National Youth Mental Health Foundation. It has been established in recognition of the need to respond in better ways to young people with mental health and substance use issues. Funding made available by the Australian Government will enable headspace to build a national platform for better access and quality care for teenagers and young adults aged 12 to 25 years. Headspace will change the way that mental health services are delivered to young people across Australia with an emphasis on youth-friendly environments and improved accessibility. See web site at http://www.headspace.org.au
The Primary Mental Health Care Network
The Primary Mental Health Care Network is part of the Australian General Practice Network (AGPN). The function of the Primary Mental Health Care Network is to provide a platform and support mechanism for the implementation of Australian Government primary mental health care programs through Divisions of General Practice. The network consists of a national co-ordinator based at AGPN and a mental health development and liaison officer in each state based office. Click here for contact details.
The WA Divisions Mental Health Network
The above network membership includes the mental health program officers at each of the 14 divisions of general practice in WA. Its function is to provide a forum for discussion and networking around mental health issues in general practice. This is achieved via regular information dissemination and discussion on the listserv, teleconferences and in face to face meetings.
How WA General Practice Network assists divisions in WA
The WA General Practice Network receives funding to support the implementation of the Primary Mental Health Care initiative and achieves this by:
· Liaising and networking with WA Divisions of General Practice and key mental health stakeholder organisations to promote quality primary mental health care in the WA community;
· Providing a co-ordination, advisory, development and support role for Mental Health Program Officers at WA Divisions;
· Dissemination and sharing of current and pertinent information amongst the network; and,
· Orientating new network members and offering support and guidance with new initiatives such as the Better Access, Can Do and Headspace programs.
The DLO achieves the above objectives through:
· Quarterly face to face network meetings;
· Six weekly teleconferences;
· Regular email dissemination of relevant documents and communication via list serv; and,
· Identification and facilitation of ongoing education in primary mental health.
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