Posted : May 4, 2006

Primary Mental Health Care

SADI is involved in strategic work developing the important role of general practice in primary mental health care. We develop strategic links and partnerships, resulting in significant initiatives. SADI is involved in lobbying at the State and Commonwealth level and is an important link representing Divisions of General Practice, and through them, general practice across SA.

SADI�s Primary Mental Health Care Development and Liaison Officer coordinates regular meetings between the Mental Health program officers in the 14 Divisions in SA. This network has national links and is state-wide providing resource and information sharing, support and innovation, and has been crucial in the implementation of state and national initiatives across the whole of South Australia. Division program officers have developed strategic links at the local level and using their specific knowledge of their region, are able to quickly and effectively tailor programs to suit local conditions.

SADI�s Mental Health Advisory Committee meets quarterly and provides guidance in the development, implementation and evaluation of initiatives in mental health as well as identifying opportunities and directions for future work. This multi-agency Committee includes consumer and carer representation and builds strategic partnerships and service integration with the State mental health reforms and with mental health agencies promoting primary mental health care in South Australia.

Snapshot of Programs

Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care
Better Outcomes is an integrated program targeting mental health care at the primary care level. It consists of five arms: GP education, GP remuneration in the form of a 3-step MBS Mental Health item number, remuneration for trained GPs to provide Focussed Psychological Strategies, access to allied health workers employed or contracted through Divisions, and rapid access to psychiatrist advice for GPs. All Divisions in SA are funded to provide allied mental health services. SA has the highest number of accredited Level 1 GPs in Australia, at approximately 24%.
Funder : Australian Department of Health and Ageing

GP PASA(GP Psychiatrist Advice SA) 8172 2050
GP-PASA 291 is the third SADI/RANZCP project in GP Access to Psychiatrists . It is an appointment coordination system facilitating GP access to consultant psychiatrist advice through MBS item 291. One-off appointments with psychiatrists can be provided within 1 to 3 weeks, and the GP receives a written management plan for the patient within 2 weeks of the appointment.For more information contact: Jill Poulton
Funder : SA Dept of Health

Perinatal Infant Mental Health in the Community (PIMHIC)
This joint project with Eastern Community Mental Health Services as one of the joint partners with Helen Mayo House and SADI focuses on the mental health of the child in the perinatal and infancy periods. Providing joint training for GPs, adult mental health workers and child health workers, the program is based on attachment theory.For more information contact: Wendy Thiele
Funder : SA Dept of Health

National Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS)
SADI is coordinating this strategic project which forms part of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. Following completion of the pilot projects run in four Division sites in SA, SADI will have responsibility for promoting the tools and training developed in this project to the remainder of SA. This program address the gaps in services, community response, risk assessment and inter-agency referral for consumers at risk of suicide.
Funder : Australian Department of Health and Ageing

Statewide Mental Health Shared Care
In June 2005, the SA Department of Health funded SADI to roll out mental health shared care and allied health programs through the Divisions Network to address the needs of consumers with chronic and complex mental health needs. This exciting development will see each Division working closely with their local community health services to better coordinate services to improve the outcomes of consumers in this sector.For more information contact: Kiara Garrard
Funder : SA Dept of Health

Managing the Mix: Alcohol and Mental Health Comorbidity
A joint project with Alcohol Education & Rehabilitation Foundation (AERF), the Mental Health Council of Australia, the Departments of Health & Ageing and Veterans Affairs. This project focuses on the primary care response to people experiencing alcohol problems and common comorbidities such as depression and anxiety.
Funder : Australian Department of Health and Ageing

Mind Matters plus GPs
Part of the Mind Matters suite of programs that addresses the mental health needs of students, this program seeks to increase the capacity of the involved schools to support students with high mental health needs. In particular it looks at referral pathways and networks of care.
Funder : Australian Department of Health and Ageing

More Allied Health Services (MAHS)
This initiative runs in rural and remote Divisions and provides additional allied health support by referral from a general practitioner. Most Divisions in SA provide some allied mental health services under this program, dependent on availability of suitably qualified and experienced practitioners.
Funder : Australian Department of Health and Ageing

Primary Mental Health Care - Contacts
Name	Organisation	Phone	Fax	Email
Jill Poulton	SADI	(08) 8172 2050	(08) 8271 8344	[email protected]
Kiara Garrard	SADI	82718988	82718344	[email protected]
Wendy Thiele		83031451		[email protected]
Janet Brinkworth	SADI	(08) 8271 8988	(08) 8271 8344	[email protected]

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Primary Mental Health Care - Links
Title	Location
IT Surveys 2002 & 2003	http://www.sadi.org.au/survey/
Headroom	http://headroom.net.au/
Multicultural Mental Health Australia (MMHA)	http://www.mmha.org.au/
Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health	http://www.acpmh.unimelb.edu.au/
Lifeline 13 11 14	http://www.lifeline.org.au/
Beyondblue (national depression initiative)	http://www.beyondblue.org.au
Australian Network for Promotion, Prevention and Early INtervention in Mental Health	http://www.auseinet.com/
Y B Blue (depression information for young people)	http://www.beyondblue.org.au/ybblue/
Mood Gym (mood disorder clinical resources for consumers)	http://www.moodgym.anu.edu.au/
Anxiety Network Australia	http://www.anxietynetwork.com.au/
Blue Pages (depression information)	http://www.bluepages.anu.edu.au/
LIFE (Suicide Prevention) A large number of resources are available under "links" on this website	http://www.livingisforeveryone.com.au/
Mental Health Council of Australia	http://www.mhca.org.au/
Clinical Research for Anxiety and Depression	http://www.crufad.com/cru_index.htm
Mind Body Life	http://www.mindbodylife.com.au/
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing	http://www.mentalhealth.gov.au
Mental Health Coalition of SA	www.mhcsa.org.au
National Mental Health Plan 2003 - 2008	http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/mental-pubs-n-plan03
Australian General Practice Network (AGPN)	http://www.agpn.com.au/site/index.cfm
The Happiness Institute	http://www.thehappinessinstitute.com.au

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