Mental Health

Better Access to Mental Health

From 1 November 2006 the following new MBS items provide support and remuneration for GPs to undertake early intervention, assessment and management of patients with a mental disorder:

New Medicare rebates also apply for up to 6 sessions of psychological interventions provided by appropriately credentialed psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists on referral from a GP. A further 6 sessions (for a total of 12) are available following a review by the referring GP.

The following charts and lists are available to assist you (PDFs from ADGP):

For Mental Health Care Plans (MBS Item 2710) visit our Chronic Disease page. For access to fact sheets and further information about Better Access visit http://www.primarymentalhealth.com.au/site/index.cfm.

Mental Health Online CPD Education for GPs

RACGP is using the online learning platform gplearning.com.au to deliver new mental health education to general practitioners across Australia.

The series of education activities includes three case studies covering early psychosis, relapse and long-term patients. As part of the series, an activity feature real patient/carer interviews has been developed, covering patient perceptions of their condition and its management.

The General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration has approved the education activity as part of Mental Health Skills Training.

For more information phone 1800 284 789.

Support for GPs

GP Psych Support is a service that provides access to patient management advice from psychiatrists and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 'GP Psych Support' has a secure and password protected website. If you don't already have a login name and password, contact the GP Psych Support team on 1800 200 588 and have your RACGP ID or Provider Number ready. You will then be able to log in and submit your query, and can expect a response from a psychiatrist in your "GP Psych Support Inbox" within 24 hours. Alternatively you can just phone for support on Ph 1800 200 588.

Local Psychologists and Specialists

BDDGP maintains an up-to-date list of local psychologists and their specialties, including the patients co-payment amount.

Psychologists may register for inclusion on the list, or modify existing details, by filling out this psychologist registration form and returning it to Mary Shone at enable javascript to see this email address (how?).

Support to Practice Nurses

General Support

Recommended sites:

If you need to speak to someone:

Resources

Pomegranate House

Pomegranate House is a team of psychotherapists with expertise in psychology, psychotherapy, long term therapy to people on a low income. For more information phone 5320 2260.

All GPs can refer to Pomegranate House. Priority is given to GPs registered with the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care program.

The Pomegranate House referral form is available on our Forms & Templates page. A small fee may apply to patients. Please read the GP fact sheet for more details about referring to Pomegranate House.

Pomegranate House programs:

Primary Mental Health Team

The PMHT are a multi-disciplinary team comprising of experienced Mental Health Clinicians and a Consultant Psychiatrist.

The PMHT can provide Mental Health Assessment and Psychological Treatments to assist with high prevalence disorders such as:

We can provide:

Patients can be seen in practices, to ensure the GP remains the key treating practitioner.

Contact for referral ph 5320 4336 9am-5pm, or fax 5320 4157.

Day Patient Program for Eating Disorders

New! The Eating Disorders Unit at the Royal Melbourne Hospital runs a Day Patient Program. The program runs 5 days per week, for 10 weeks and is designed to support people with eating disorders to restore normal eating patterns and behaviours. It adopts a variety of interventions including; CBT, behavioural therapy, mindfulness, art therapy and psycho-education.

More information, brochure and referral form

Lifeline's Just Ask

Lifeline's Just ask is a national mental health information and referral service operated by Lifeline and funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Lifeline's Just ask provides an information-based intervention for people with a mental illness as well as their carers, family members, communities and professionals in rural and regional areas. Lifeline's Just ask has a 1300 131 114 information helpline and dedicated website at www.justask.org.au and also responds to email enquiries.

Lifeline's Just ask has developed a number of self-help toolkits on a range of mental health and trauma related issues. For example under 'What's new?' a toolkit for helping someone at risk of suicide.

These toolkits are available to support GPs in proving education in plain English to patients on mental health issues. Lifeline's Just ask can also be used as a referral point for patients and their carers who have recently been diagnosed with a mental illness.

Lifeline's Just ask is an information service and does not provide a counseling service. Lifeline's 24-hour telephone counseling service is available for the cost of a local call from anywhere in Australia on 131 114.