The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has called on the Federal Government to ensure GPs’ centralrole in mental health assessment and treatment remains under its new reform package.
RACGP President Dr Frank R Jones has cautiously welcomed a stepped care model to mental health to match services to need, however the role of general practice must be explicit, within the proposed new model.
“Fragmentation of care must be avoided as this produces worse patient outcomes,” Dr Jones said.
“It remains unclear to date where the interaction between front-line general practice and the new ‘commissioners’ of health, the Primary Health Networks (PHNs) will occur.
“The implications of changes to the Better Access for Mental Health Care initiative are also unclear with potential profound implications
“Many of the new initiatives need further reflection, and the RACGP will reserve its opinion until the fine details are available.”
Dr Jones said it was important for the care of patients that general practitioners remained front and central in patient diagnosis, assessing patient needs, managing and coordinating patient care, and receiving adequate support to deliver these services.
“GPs in local communities around Australia are the first port of call for people experiencing mental health issues and provide essential support services including identification, treatment and management of conditions,” Dr Jones said.
GPs recognise the close alliance of physical and mental disease and this clinical skill is an area of critical importance in dealing with the whole person.
“The prevalence of mental illness in Australians is alarmingly common and GPs have a unique relationship with their patients based on trust. Our patients know that the general practice setting is a safe place for them to acknowledge their feelings of depression and anxiety.
“This is of particular importance in rural and remote settings, where the GP may be the only health professional available to support patients with mental health presentations.”
Dr Jones welcomed the proposed enhancement of the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program, with plans to ensure equitable distribution of access to mental health nurses to support people with severe mental illness.
Dr Jones said the RACGP had been instrumental in Australian mental health advocacy, calling on the Federal and State governments earlier this year to provide a more flexible and streamlined approach to the provision of mental health services in rural Australia.
Furthermore, as the Chair of the General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC), the RACGP actively promotes the development and uptake of quality professional development in mental health for GPs.
The RACGP is committed to ensuring GPs are properly equipped and resourced to carry out their critical role in supporting mentally ill Australians, and breaking down the stigma associated with mental illness.
“We hope the PHNs will work closely with the GPs in their regions to fully understand the needs of their local communities in commissioning mental health services,” Dr Jones said.