Mental Health Program
Contacts
Kay Dufty
Mental Health Program Coordinator
Email Kay Dufty
8480 4609
Zoi Servinis
Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Project Worker
Email Zoi Servinis
8480 4617
Better Access & Better Outcomes
Newsletters & updates for Better Access
More information on the new initiatives
Northern Mental Health services
Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program
Northern Area Mental Health Service (NAMHS) Discharge Protocols
Northern Primary Mental Health Team (NPMHT)
Mental Health Templates and Downloads
Royal Children's Hospital and Paediatrics (Resources section)
Adolescent Health Check template
plus access The Healthy Minds Promoting Positive Wellbeing Mental Health School Resource booklet.
Moreland Youth Guide
Access to Psychiatrist Support
Northern Primary Mental Health Team (NPMHT)
Mental Health Patient Resources in Community Languages
Mental Health Resources
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Better Access & Better Outcomes
Mental Health Skills Training
Changes to Schedule Fee for Item 2710 Mental Health Treatment Plan
From 1 November 2006, new pathways to psychological services were made available for patients of general practitioners. Download a flow chart showing the new pathways (pdf).
Better Access
All GPs can refer patients for up to 12 sessions of psychological services.
Referrals must be to providers registered with Medicare Australia
Referrals can be to psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, mental health workers or Aboriginal health workers.
The allied health provider receives a rebate and may charge a gap fee.
There are no mental health training requirements for the GPs, or practice accreditation requirements
A further 6 session (total 18) may be accessed under exceptional circumstances sessions.
Click here to download the Better Access Initiative Orientation Manual.
Click here to download Allied Health Providers registered with Medicare Australia in the Northern Region of Melbourne (current at June 2009).
An Appendix to AHPs registered with Medicare is the GP Fees & Patient Rebates for Better Access GP Mental Health Care Plan & Review & Consultation table. Click here to download.
Contact the Northern Division on Tel. 9416 7689 or email for a list of psychologists.
Newsletters & updates for Better Access
Implementation of mental health skills training for GPs – New Medicare item DoHA Newsletter 26 November 2009
Better Outcomes
GPs can refer to the Northern Division's Brief Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Services Program via a one-page referral form. Through this program, GPs can refer patients to psychologists for a limited series of CBT counselling sessions. If you have not accessed the program before please call Zoi on 8480 4617.
- The Brief CBT Services program will continue to be available at no cost for low income patients.
- Mental Health training is not mandatory for either Better Outcomes or Better Access options. However the Northern Division encourages GPs to continue their participation in mental health training.
Greater GP remuneration
GP remuneration has increased, under the new Mental Health Care Items.
Click here to download a list of the new items.
News item - Psychologists call for better use of funding, 19 April 2008 .
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More information on the new initiatives
The Australian Government website has information on:
- COAG Mental Health
- Better Access to Mental Health Care: An Overview
- Questions and Answers
- MBS Fees and rebate Table
- New Medicare GP Mental Health Care Items
- Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and GP’s through the Medicare Benefits Schedule
- New Medicare Items for Psychologists and other allied mental health professionals
- New and amended Medicare items for psychiatrists
GPV Consultation on the Mental Health Act 1986 - Click here to download.
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Northern Mental Health services
Northern suburbs resources with referral details.
Printed in Division News Summer Edition 2007.
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Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program
This initiative will fund community based general practices, private psychiatric practices and other appropriate organisations to engage mental health nurses to assist in the provision of coordinated clinical care for people with severe mental disorders. Click here to downoad the guidelines.
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Northern Area Mental Health Service (NAMHS) Discharge Protocols
This discharge protocol describes an agreed upon collaborative approach between clinicians working within
NAMHS and General Practitioners (GPs) working in the cities of Darebin and Whittlesea that will ensure consumers of the NAMHS receive continuous high quality mental health care. In addition, it provides the basis for a change in
culture in the NAMHS and its work with GPs and underpins a commitment to ongoing development in this area.
(pdf) NAMHS Discharge Protocols
Northern Primary Mental Health Team (NPMHT)
(pdf) The Northern Primary Mental Health Team Referral Form
The NPMHT is located at the Division Office. They are part of the Northern Area Mental Health Service.
Their aims include:
- Improving treatment results for those suffering common disorders such as depression and anxiety.
- Promoting early intervention.
- Strengthening links between GPs and other primary health services, and specialist mental health services.
GPs can contact the Team on Tel. 8480 3808 for advice about patients, assessments, short-term treatment and referrals.
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Mental Health Templates and Downloads
Click here to go to the Medicare Items, Care Plans and Resources page.
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Adolescent Health Check template
Read instructions first, before importing this template into (pdf) Medical Director or (pdf) Medical Spectrum
(Thanks to Monash Division for these instructions. Note: do NOT open the template until it you have followed the instructions and installed it.)
Adolescent Health Check template - This is a best practice health check for which there is no MBS item number.
Healthy Minds Promoting Positive Wellbeing - Mental Health School Resource Booklet.
Moreland Youth Guide
A useful listing of all kinds of youth services for Moreland. Click here to download.
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Access to Psychiatrist Support
Could a psychiatrist help you help your patient?
Now also offering advice on youth mental health and substance use problems.
GP Psych Support provides GPs with patient management advice from psychiatrists within 24 hours.
GP Psych Support has been expanded to provide advice from specialists in both child & adolescent and drug & alcohol psychiatry (this advice may be provided in more than 24 hours).
To access GP Psych Support:
Phone: 1800 200 588. You will be asked some brief questions concerning your enquiry and a psychiatrist will call you back within 24 hours.
Fax: 1800 012 422. Using the faxback form provide details regarding the issue for discussion. A psychiatrist will then fax or phone you to discuss case details.
Email: www.psychsupport.com.au is a secure and password protected website. Log in and submit your questions online. For your username and password, call 1800 200 588. Click here to visit their website.
Click here to download the GP Psychiatry Liaison Model.
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Mental Health Patient Resources in Community Languages
Multicultural Mental Health Australia (MMHA) have produced fact sheets to provide concise consumer or carer information, translated into various languages. MMHA also list fact sheets published by other organisations.
Click here to access the website.
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Mental Health Resources
Resource Downloads
Mental Health Services and information
Information and support organisations
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