Quality Improvement Council

Mental Health Program

Main Resources ATAPS Resources Youth Mental Health

Amanda Irwin (ATAPS)

Email: amanda.irwin

Chris Biggs (MHNI)

Email: chris.biggs

What is the Mental Health Program?

General practice has plays a pivotal role in the early intervention and management of all patients with mental health disorders. The BGPN Network’s Mental Health program delivers a range of services aimed at increasing the level of integration between mental health service providers and general practice through the promotion and administration of the National Action Plan on Mental Health with measures which include :

  • The Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) project, designed to support General Practitioners to refer eligible people with a mental disorder to allied health services for time limited, Focussed Psychological Strategies treatment. This program is aimed at patients who are low income, health care card holders, youth aged 12-25yrs, children under 12 yrs with a mental disorder and patients at risk of suicide.
  • Better Access in Mental Health Care program, a structured framework for GPs to undertake early intervention, assessment and management of patients with mental disorders, as well as providing new referral pathways to clinical psychologist and allied mental health service providers. A Mental Health Treatment plan must be completed and patients can then access Medicare rebated psychological counseling.
  • Mental Health Nurse Initiative , a service delivery program aimed at managing the patient in the community, the MHN based in the practice also links the patient in with a range of services to provide holistic care and an increased access to support services and promotion of positive health outcomes..

What does the Mental Program do?

Provide the following services:

  • Access to information (tip sheets, resources, etc)
  • Assistance with referral to Psychologists and other Mental Health Professional through ATAPS program.
  • Education and training events (Mental Health Skills Training)
  • Raising of community awareness of mental health issues
  • Promotion of youth friendly practices

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How can the Mental Health Program help you?

BGPN supports measures to increase capacity to provide high quality Mental health services through

  • Increased access and utilisation of MH services and incentives
  • Analysis and planning for appropriate MH local health services
  • Acting as a central resource for information relative to MH,/
  • Where necessary responding to MH enquiries from practices on issues related to MBS item numbers and chronic disease processes of care (eg: recall and reminder, disease registers)
  • Identify ‘best practice’ electronic MH templates and ensure all members have access to resources (utilising the website, newsletter)
  • Up skilling GPs and practices staff around use of their MH and demographic data to drive for quality improvements

Co-ordinate MH education and training for General Practitioners through providing professional development opportunities for GPs and practice staff as required within allocated program responsibilities.

Develop and maintain effective links with appropriate Victorian Department of Health and Federal Government funding bodies .
Convene and supporting local service provider networks to integrate with other health care providers as relevant to primary health care delivery through the network

  What has the Mental Health Program achieved?

  • Provision of Mental Health Skills Training and MH CPD for members.  
  • Support to members regarding Mental Health initiatives/Mental Health MBS item numbers.
  • ATAPS program is utilised by over 50% of GPs and the psychologist directory has over 60 ATAPS accredited ATAPS providers acroos the mental health field, including psychologists, clinical psychologists, social workers, OTs and mental health nurses.
  • Promotion of youth friendly practices
  • Collaboration with Kingston Bayside PCP Mental Health Promotion Committee to launch Act Belong Commit ,a Youth Action Plan involving local schools.
  • Continued Expansion of Mental Health Nurse Incentive program- now in 9 practices
  • Network of Professional resources from a wide range of agencies

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