Aboriginal Health Forum
Mental Health
Overview
In 1999 the National Primary Mental Health Initiative of $3m was introduced to provide GPs with education in primary mental health care and to improve linkages between GPs and specialist mental health services, including public, private and non-government services. Funding was allocated for Development and Liaison positions in each SBO, a National Co-ordinator based at AGPN, and a Primary Mental Health Care Australian Resource Centre. Since then, two national programs in mental health have been introduced � the Better Outcomes in Mental Health (2001) and the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and General Practitioners (2006) with the aim of supporting general practice to deliver high quality, structured mental health care and to increase community access to mental health services under the Medicare Benefits Schedule. Both these national programs have had substantial impact on the work of divisions and GPs in providing primary mental health care.
In addition, the Department of Human Services has funded mental health services to support primary care agencies, including GPs, since 2001, with the introduction of the Primary Mental Health Teams. Further support to general practice has been provided through the Centre for Excellence in Eating Disorders, the promotion of discharge planning protocols between area mental health services and divisions, and a range of mental health services which offer secondary consultation to GPs as well as accepting direct referral of patients.
Key Objectives
GPV provides active support to the Victorian divisions to facilitate mental health care through general practice. The key objectives of this position are to provide leadership, advocacy and representation, and support to the Victorian divisions in the delivery of mental health programs in general practice, specifically with regard to the national programs described above and state initiatives in primary mental health care which involve general practice. A key component of this role is to assist divisions to integrate both State and Commonwealth programs in primary mental health care.
For further information contact:
Anne Diamond, Mental Health Program Consultant Ph: 03 9341 5200 | Fax 03 9341 5299 | Email: a.diamond@gpv.org.au