Programs - mental health
This page provides information on the Division's mental health program.
This program helps GPs to identify and manage management mental health services in their local communities.
Why is this important?
Mental illness can impact on a person’s development, education and career and reduce their quality of life. Approximately one in five or more than three million Australians are affected by a mental illness in any single year.
Mental health has been identified as a priority area for the Australian Government.
What can the Division offer?
The Mental Health program can assist GPs to improve and enhance the generalist psychiatry diagnostic and management skills of general practitioners. The aim is to improve timely access to evidence based quality treatments for their patients presenting with mental health issues.
We do this through:
- shared care partnerships between doctors and specialist psychiatry and psychology services
- links with community health and social welfare organizations
- coordinating professional development programs
- auspicing a local advisory committee which brings doctors and specialists together to discuss and sort out issues
- providing advice to doctors about how they can access various Australian Government funded treatment and support services for their patients
- Advice on referral to appropriate drug and alcohol services
- Advice on appropriate use of Medicare item numbers.
What services are available locally?
More information
Please contact Dianne Lewis at Bankstown GP Division