Mental Health Education and Training

Program Contact Person

Janette Ellis

Kellie Marshall

Activities

Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Initiative

Click here to read about this initiative.

General Education Activities

In response to the identified need for training in mental health for GPs, the Division has conducted a range of education sessions in mental health. The Division has hosted a number of SPHERE Depression and Anxiety workshops with a total of 91 GPs attending since the establishment of the program. We have also seen 34 GPs complete SPHERE Cognitive Behavioural Therapy training. As a continuation in the development of skills in CBT nine GPs have also participated in CBT supervision with the University of Wollongong, funded through the Mental Health Integration Project. The Division has also provided other avenues for training in mental health, including; an ADHD training workshop for GPs, Grief and Loss Seminar and a Mental Health Forum on accessing mental health services in the Illawarra.

The IDGP will continue to provide mental health skills training for GPs to access the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care initiative and also in response to identified needs.

The Division, in collaboration with Illawarra Health, have also conducted education workshops for practice staff on the following topics:

  • Managing challenging behaviours in general practice (covering such topics as aggression, drug and alcohol problems and services, and patients with mental health disorders)

  • Creating a youth friendly practice

  • Understanding the role of the GP in care coordination for people with Drug & Alcohol and mental health problems

Teams of Two

Teams of Two is a joint learning initiative that brings together GPs and mental health professionals for case discussion to problem solve about the practicalities of working together. The Illawarra Division along with the Illawarra Mental Health Service hosted a Teams of Two breakfast in October 2002 and a Teams of Two pilot workshop in March 2003. A participant agreed that is was a very positive and beneficial way of improving communication and collaboration between mental health professionals and GPs.

A Teams of Two workshop was held on 31 March 2004, participants included a dozen mental health staff from right across the Illawarra Mental Health Service and an equal number of GPs, staff from the IDGP, Drug & Alcohol Service along with representatives from the Police and Ambulance Service. The focus of this workshop was to discuss the processes surrounding involuntary admission. These gatherings have formed an excellent way for GPs and the staff from the mental health service to get to know one another better as both professionals and people, and to hear first hand some of the challenges that face all of us in trying to work together. Participants clearly identified the need and want to participate in more of these sessions in the future.

Brief Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (BCBT) Group Supervision for General Practitioners

Over the last five years, evaluations completed by GPs after introductory mental health training, have reflected a need for further training in CBT. In response to this training need, the IDGP, in conjunction with the University of Wollongong (UOW), ran a pilot trial of CBT group supervision in 2002. Supervision comprised of 5 GPs, led in an interactive case discussion format by an expert facilitator, once a month (1.5 hours) for 8 months total. Group Supervision was chosen as a training intervention because it is the most widely used mode of training across mental health disciplines. Feedback from GPs participating in this pilot trial indicated that the group had been successful, with GPs improving their therapy skills and patient outcomes, as well as benefiting from the establishment of supportive relationships.

Based on this feedback the University of Wollongong in consultation with the IDGP have enhanced this training to develop a Brief Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (BCBT) Group Supervision training program for General Practitioners. This is currently being delviered to 5 groups of 6 GPs who are required to attend 8 2 hour session over a 6 month period. Training entails both lecture format and interactive case discussion of current patients. The aim of this training is to enhance the knowledge, skills and confidence of GP’s treating patients with mental health problems. It is envisaged that participation in group supervision will enhance the outcomes of patients receiving mental health care.

The program developed and delivered by

  • Mitchell Byrne Clinical Psychologist Lecturer, University of Wollongong

  • Rachael Murrihy  Registered Psychologist

Joint Collaborations

The Division’s mental health program works closely with a range of mental health services and programs in the Illawarra. The Division has formed partnerships and collaborates with the Mental Health Integration Project (MHIP), through the Illawarra Mental Health Service. MHIP has allowed for greater access for GPs to psychiatrist support through the successful Consultation and Liaison Service and with the Clozapine Shared Care project. Through MHIP funding two GP VMO’s have also been employed by the Community Mental Health Teams.

The mental health program has also worked closely with the GP Mental Health Service Partnerships Project. This collaboration has seen the development of the Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol Service Directory for the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, and also the Psychological Services Directory, which is also available on-line on the Division’s website. A ‘referral pathway and triage’ flowchart to the Illawarra Mental Health and Drug, Alcohol and HIV/AIDS Services has also been developed along with a GP referral form to the services, with the aim of these resources to enhance and improve access and referral to the Illawarra Mental Health and Drug, Alcohol and HIV/AIDS Services.