Mental health
RACGP Mental Health
This section brings together a range of information of interest to general practitioners which relates to mental health.
General practice is the provision of primary continuing comprehensive whole-patient medical care to individuals, families and their communities, extending to biological, psychological and social aspects of care. 1
General Practitioners (GPs) are a critical part of the mental health care system in Australia. GPs provide 11 million services relating to a mental health problem each year and are the preferred first source of professional assistance for people with depression. 2,3
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is a national member-based organisation which sets and maintains standards for high quality general practice, leads the education, training and assessment processes for General Practitioners; advocates on behalf of the profession and supports Australia's GPs in meeting the health needs of the Australian population.
With a membership of over 17,000 the College is the largest General Practitioner organisation in Australia. More than 5000 members of the RACGP's National Rural Faculty also make the College Australia's largest representative of rural general practice.
Contact RACGP mental health
Tel: 03 8699 0554
Fax: 03 8699 0570
Email: mentalhealth@racgp.org.au
The RACGP is involved in numerous activities aiming to support the provision of quality mental health care in general practice. Some of the projects at the RACGP are listed below:
Mental Health Professionals' Associations
The MHPA is joint initiative of the RACGP, The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, the Australian Psychological Society and the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses. The MHPA aims to foster initiatives and advocacy around mental health care at a national level than aim to improve mental health and wellbeing in the community.
A key current project involves development of a professional education, and clinical networking package aimed at supporting key mental health professional groups to work better together.
General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration
The RACGP chairs and manages the GPMHSC, which includes representatives of the RACGP, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, the Australian Psychological Society and the community (a consumer and a carer) through the Mental Health Council of Australia.
The GPMHSC aims to promote development and uptake of quality education and training in mental health for general practitioners and general practice teams. The GPMHSC is funded by the Australian Government under the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care program.
gplearning
The RACGP's online training arm, gplearning, has a number of high quality professional development activities relating to mental health, including modules on depression, psychosis, bipolar disorder, and substance use.
GP Psych Support
GP Psych Support provides GPs with free patient management advice from a psychiatrist within 24 hours, and includes specialized advice from child and adolescent specialists, and dual diagnosis/drug and alcohol specialists. The service can be accessed by telephone, fax or via the internet 24 hours a day. GP Psych Support is funded by the Australian Government under the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care program.
Professional peer support program
Doctors may do well at managing the health care for their patients, but are not always particularly good at looking after their own needs, including their mental health and wellbeing. The RACGP is involved in a number of programs that aim to support improved self care by medical practitioners.
Guidelines
The Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice ('Red Book') provides evidence based guidelines, including for psychosocial screening in general practice.
The companion volume Putting prevention into practice ('Green Book') provides strategies for implementing preventive activities in the general practice setting.
The National guide to a preventive health assessment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples provides screening recommendations for mental health and suicide prevention in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
A number of other guidelines relevant to mental health are published at the RACGP website.
Information for consumers: GP Mental Health Care Plan Medicare items
The RACGP has produced a fact sheet which explains the GP Mental Health Care Plan, introduced in November 2006 to consumers. The guidelines have been validated with consumer organisations as appropriate and useful.
Resources and publications
The RACGP produces a range of regular publications which frequently include updates, clinical and other relevant information on mental health for GPs.
Australian Family Physician is the RACGP's official journal, reguarly features articles relevant to mental health.
Mental health review is a brief newsletter circulated quarterly with Australian Family Physician, aiming to provide GPs a quick read on topical issues in mental health.
The check Program is one of the longest running and most successful self education programs in the history of Australian general practice.
GPReview is a bimonthly magazine featuring inspirational stories, general practice news, QA&CPD news and reporting of college events. A well balanced mix of news, views and features, it highlights the many excellent and innovative projects undertaken by the college and its members.
References
- The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. "Definition of General Practice and General Practitioners"
- Britt H, Miller GC, Knox S, et al. General practice activity in Australia 2004-2005. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2005. Report no.: AIHW cat. no. GEP 18.
- Highet NJ , Hickie IB, Davenport TA. Monitoring awareness of and attitudes to depression in Australia . Med J Aust. 2002 May 20;176 Suppl:S63-8.
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