Rural GPs will be better equipped to help patients with mental health issues thanks to a new Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) training opportunity launched today.
The RACGP National Rural Faculty (NRF) Chair Dr Ayman Shenouda said mental health was a key issue for GPs working in rural areas.
“GPs play a crucial role in the provision of mental health services for all Australians but particularly so in regional and remote areas because GPs are often the only available health professional to help people with a mental health issue,” Dr Shenouda said.
“With increasing demands on public mental health facilities and scarcity of specialist psychiatrists in rural Australia, there is a clear need for increased resources, support and training in mental health for the rural GP workforce.
“Rural GPs have told us they want more support and advocacy in the area. We’ve listened and created the RACGP’s new Advanced Rural Skills Training (ARST) Curriculum for Mental Health for practising GPs and registrars. This will be provided as part of the Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice (FARGP).
“The curriculum aims to equip GPs with the skills and attitudes required to effectively care for patients presenting with mental health concerns in areas where face-to-face support from other professionals is often limited,” Dr Shenouda said.
The RACGP also released today a Position Statement on the provision of mental health Services in rural Australia, calling for Federal and State Governments to adopt a more flexible and streamlined approach.
“Mental health reform and a stronger mental health care system is vital to improving overall health outcomes in rural areas of Australia. The issue is escalating in urgency and while the RACGP is committed to ensuring rural GPs are adequately supported and able to provide quality mental health care, we need greater commitment from government,” Dr Shenouda said.
The RACGP’s position statement calls for increased flexibility within funding streams so solutions that best meet local needs can be developed.
“Policy in its current form is failing to address health needs in rural communities and more emphasis is needed on flexibility and support to ensure strategies complement GP-led multidisciplinary teams and shared care arrangements in rural areas,” Dr Shenouda said.
The RACGP is the peak professional body for general practice in Australia representing more than 29,000 members working in or towards a career in general practice.