General Practitioners (GPs)

A Distance Education Unit Available for GPs in 2010. Cross-Cultural Mental Health Care in General Practice

Offered by the NSW Institute of Psychiatry & The Transcultural Mental Health Centre.
Commences 26 July 2010
Scholarships available for GPs and GP registrars.
For more information click here

Workshop for GPs: Cross-Cultural Mental Health Care in General Practice

1 Day Workshop, Saturday 18 September 2010
For more information click here
Download Flyer here

Click on the links below for more information about the TMHC GP Program;

• Background
• Future Directions
• Publications and Reports
• Education and Training
• Contact Us

Background

General Practitioners (GPs) play an important role in the provision of mental health care. They are often the first point of contact with the health care system for people with a mental illness. GPs are usually located locally and are more accessible than specialist mental health services.  In addition, there is less stigma associated with visiting a GP than a specialist mental health service.

The Transcultural Mental Health Centre’s GP Program supports GPs to better meet the needs of their CALD patients. 

This support is provided through;

• Policy and system level initiatives aimed at improving communication between GPs and mental health services.
• Advocating for the needs of people with a mental illness from CALD backgrounds with peak bodies such as General Practice NSW and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. 
• The development of education and training programs that equip GPs to better serve the needs of patients from CALD backgrounds with a mental illness. 
• The provision of clinical assessment, consultation and short-term intervention for patients referred by GPs.
• Providing a culturally appropriate counselling service via TMHC Clinical Services for CALD patients as part of the Access to Allied Psychological Services Projects funded by the Commonwealth Government.
• Involving consumers in the process of educating and supporting GPs.

Future Directions

Future initiatives will include:

• Involving consumers and carers in the process of educating and supporting GPs
• Developing closer links with GP training organisations and promoting the unit 'Cross-Cultural Mental Health Care in General Practice' offered by the Institute of Psychiatry in partnership with the Transcultural Mental Health Centre and;
• Developing closer links with GP Networks and Divisions and individual GP practices that are interested in working collaboratively with the TMHC.

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Publications and Reports

• General Practitioners and Counsellors: A Pilot Mental Health Partnership (2003).

This report details strategies used to support GPs in meeting the mental health needs of their CALD patients. It includes a detailed analysis of the implementation and evaluation of the Co-Location Liaison Project.

Order Report
Download TMHC Publications Catalogue

• Acute Mental Health Presentations.

This brochure describes some of the issues to consider when assessing a person from a CALD background presenting in an acute mental health crisis.  The brochure is recommended for GPs and mental health care providers across NSW.  It was developed in conjunction with the Teams of Two, a joint learning initiative between the NSW Department of Health and the NSW Divisions of General Practice.

• Depression Dilemmas: Working Cross-Culturally with Older People

This brochure describes issues to consider when engaging and assessing older people from CALD backgrounds, particularly for depression. It includes contact details for a range of general, mental health and multicultural services and resources relating to older CALD people living in NSW. It is recommended for GPs and general and mental health care providers across NSW and was created in conjunction with the Teams of Two joint learning initiative.

• NSW Transcultural Mental Health Centre Clinical Consultation and Assessment Service Brochure

This brochure provides information about the TMHC Clinical Consultation and Assessment Service, including how to make a referral to the Service. 

• Cross-cultural issues for ‘Can Do’ facilitators: Working with individuals and families from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

This leaflet provides advice on integrating cross-cultural issues into training sessions. It was developed for those facilitating the national 'Can Do' initiative for managing mental health and substance use in general practice.

Education and Training

The Transcultural Mental Health Centre and the NSW Institute of Psychiatry will continue to offer a distance education unit for GPs in 2010. The unit 'Cross-Cultural Mental Health Care in General Practice' provides new and experienced GPs with the skills and knowledge to work more effectively with patients from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

The TMHC is also available to provide cross-cultural mental health workshops to GPs via GP Networks and Divisions.

More information

Contact the GP Program

Jennifer Herron
GP Project Officer
Telephone: 02 9840 3800
Email: Jennifer Herron  

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 Last Updated 21 Apr 2010