Mental Health Resources
GP RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
NSW Mental Health Act Schedule 1 Medical Certificate
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Mental Health Act 2007 (Section 19) Schedule 1 Medical Certificate
as to examination or observation of person |
WORD (44KB) PDF (18 KB) |
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| Electronic Template Schedule 1 Medical Certificate for Best Practice |
RTF (19KB) |
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| Electronic Template Schedule 1 Medical Certificate for Medical Director |
MD TEMPLATE RTF (18KB ) |
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NB: These electronic templates have been developed by
Central Sydney Division of General Practice |
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New MBS Item Numbers for Mental Health
In November 2006 the government introduced the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and GPs through the Medicare Benefits Schedule initiative. Click here to view the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing website for further details.
GPs preparing a GP Mental Health Care Plan should complete both an Assessment and a Plan and Review document:
Referral Templates for GPs
| ACCESS Team Referral Form Sutherland Division of Mental Health, Sutherland Hospital |
WORD (80KB) |
| Child Youth and Family Referral Form, Sutherland Hospital and Community Health Service |
PDF (92 KB ) |
Outcome Tools
Paediatric Symptoms Checklist (3-16 year olds)
One parent-report questionnaire for children aged 3-16 years. One self-report questionnaire. Available in some other languages. Simpler scoring process than SDQ. Click below for:
Further information can be found online at http://www.massgeneral.org/allpsych/PediatricSymptomChecklist/psc_order.htm
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (4-17 year olds)
Available in various versions, depending on age group and whether parent- or self-report. Available in various languages. Complex scoring process. Used by clinical psychologists in child and adolescent mental health services in Australia. Click below for:
What is the SDQ? http://www.sdqinfo.com/b1.html
Scoring guidelines. Link to http://www.sdqinfo.com/b4.html Further information can be found online at http://www.sdqinfo.com/
ATAPS Program
CBT Training and patient self-help Modules
In conjunction with Sutherland Division of Mental Health, our Division has developed a number of patient self-help modules based on psychological therapies commonly employed in helping people with anxiety disorders or depression. These were originally intended to be given to patients by a GP who had undertaken mental health training in these techniques.
GP training documents and resources:
Patient self-help modules:
Sutherland Division of Mental Health, Sutherland Hospital and Community Health Service
Child Youth and Family Counselling Service, Sutherland Hospital and Community Health Service
Directories of Mental Health Service Providers (revised as at April 2008)
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Directory of Local Mental Health Service Providers |
PDF (118KB) |
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Local psychologists are under “Psychologist” in the directory |
PDF (57KB) |
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Local psychiatrists are under “Psychiatrist - Private” in the directory |
PDF (118KB) |
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Drug and Alcohol Services: AOD” in the directory |
PDF (118KB) |
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Eating Disorders Services Directory |
PDF (58 KB) |
If you provide mental health services to the residents of Sutherland Shire and would like to be included in the local directory, or to update your entry in this directory, please complete the Proforma document and fax to us on 9545 3522 (download proforma - WORD (67KB)
GP Mental Health Education
Useful Mental Health Links
The addresses / links below will take you to specific web pages dealing with particular issues (eg treatments for depression and anxiety) however, these websites contain much more information. To find out about other aspects of mental illness, you may find it useful to click on the 'home' button when you are in these other sites.
- National Alcohol guidelines http://www.alcohol.gov.au/
- Information and fact sheets on alcohol and illicit drugs. www.druginfo.adf.org.au
- Links to a wide range of organisations and resources via the Australian Drug Foundation’s Australian Drug Information Network. www.adin.com.au
- beyondblue, national depression initiative site http://www.beyondblue.org.au/
- infrapsych
- The Black Dog Institute is a not-for-profit, educational, research, clinical and community-oriented facility offering specialist expertise in depression and bipolar disorder. For further information visit this site on http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au
- Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUFAD) site http://www.crufad.unsw.edu.au/
- Several organisations including Australian National University and Centre for Mental Health Research contribute to this site http://bluepages.anu.edu.au/
- Anxiety and Depression prevention site. CBT online http://moodgym.anu.edu.au
- A large Australian Health site with high quality information http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/
- The Australian College of Psychological Medicine site http://www.acpm.org.au/
- SANE Australia. Information, education, research http://www.sane.org/
- Mental Health Association NSW Inc. Wide range of factsheets www.mentalhealth.asn.au/home.htm
- ReachOut – support for young people http://www.reachout.com.au/
- Multicultural Mental Health Australia. Keep up-to-date with the latest information on resources, services, research, conferences and events relating to multicultural mental health http://www.mmha.org.au/
- List of websites providing translated mental health information http://www.mmha.org.au/translations/websites-offering-translated-mental-health-factsheets
- List of bilingual mental health professionals throughout Australia: http://www.mmha.org.au/translations/bi-lingual-mental-health-workers-directory
- Reality Check - A practical resource that examines factors leading to under-utilisation of services by CALD communities and provides a checklist of 10 things that will make a difference in improving CALD service provision. http://www.mmha.org.au/mmha-products/books-and-resources/reality-check
- Beyond Words - This resource provides a model for delivery on promoting mental health issues and learning from CALD communities. The booklet also contains a checklist for organisations wanting to develop multilingual resources. http://www.mmha.org.au/mmha-products/books-and-resources/beyond-words-lessons-on-translation-trust-and-meaning-from-the-no-more-2018mualagh2019-
project
- Cultural Awareness Tool (CAT) - A practical guide designed to provide guidance to primary care mental health practitioners for developing a culturally aware approach to working with mental health consumers.http://www.mmha.org.au/mmha-products/books-and-resources/cultural-awareness-tool-cat
- In Their Own Right - An assessment tool to support carers in their role providing information about the issues they, and the service providers who work with them face. http://www.mmha.org.au/mmha-products/books-and-resources/in-their-own-right
- Reducing Stigma - An educational tool to assist both mental health workers and consumer & carers to develop strategies within their communities to reduce stigma. http://www.mmha.org.au/mmha-products/books-and-resources/reducing-stigma-about-mental-illness-in-transcultural-settings-a-guide
CONSUMER INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Where Do I Get Help?
Speak to your own GP about your problems and they may offer help themselves or refer you to a specialist service such as psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors or other services. Psychiatrists are doctors specialising in mental illnesses and you will need a referral letter from your GP.
Psychologists have a university degree in psychology and specialise in understanding how thinking and behaviour affect how we feel. They can teach patients how to change their thinking and behaviour to reduce or eliminate symptoms of illness and manage stressful life experiences. You can find a list of local psychologists in the phone book under 'psychologists' or your GP may advise you.
Counsellors come from a range of training backgrounds and offer support and advice for a range of situations and conditions eg individual, couple, family therapy. You can find local services in the phone book under 'counselling'.
Useful Mental Health website links and resources
Depression and Anxiety: what are they?
Click here to find out about these common conditions
Treatments for Depression and Anxiety
Click on here for an outline of treatments (psychological, medications, alternative approaches) for anxiety and depression or visit this site
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/
What you should know about Suicide
A fact sheet produced by the Mental Health Information Service on the risk factors and warning signs, plus information and advice on how to help someone who may be feeling suicidal. http://www.mentalhealth.asn.au/
Support after Suicide
Click here for information about a support group in Sutherland Shire run by Southern Community Welfare for people who have been bereaved by suicide.
- or phone Southern Community Welfare on (02) 9545 0299
Eating Disorders
Click below on the Eating Disorders Foundation of NSW website for information on these conditions, how to help someone with an eating disorder, support groups, resources etc. http://www.edsn.asn.au/
What is Psychosis?
Click to the website link for a description of psychosis. www.eppic.org.au/pdfs/info1.pdf Further information on Early Psychosis Prevention can be found at http://www.eppic.org.au/
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Click here for general information on the condition and its treatment and specific advice for carers.
Young People's Mental Health
For some young people, adolescence can be associated with the development of depression, anxiety, psychosis or other mental illnesses. The following website has been specifically designed to provide information to young people on mental illness, drugs and alcohol, eating disorders, relationships, loss and grief and other mental health issues.
http://www.reachout.com.au/
The beyondblue (National Depression Initiative) website also has information on depression in young people, experienced by 1 in 5 young people in Australia each year www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=5.85 and www.beyondblue.org.au/ybblue
Post Natal Depression (PND)
Find out about the different types of PND from the Black Dog Institute.
Men's Health
Men's mental health can be bound up in their work and home relationships. This site gives information on relationships, family law, surviving divorce, parenting, conflict resolution and has a services directory showing support groups and events specifically for men. They also have a 24 hour telephone helpline at 1300 78 99 78 http://www.menslineaus.org.au/
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Click on this site for information on alcohol and a range of other drugs and how they affect the body
Carers
Being a carer for someone with a mental illness can be extremely challenging. Carers need information about the illness affecting their loved one, need to be involved in planning the management of the person who is ill (with their permission), and need to look after their own needs at the same time.
Click below for a factsheet: Caring for Someone with a Mental Illness:
How Can I help? and Caring for a person with Depression or Anxiety. See websites below for information on specific conditions.The Carers NSW http://www.carersnsw.asn.au/ and SANE Australia http://www.sane.org/ websites also have useful information.
Other useful websites for consumers
- SANE Australia
National charity helping people with a mental illness. Information and resources.
- Reach Out!
Mental health information for young people. Includes info on mental illnesses, loss and grief, drugs and alcohol, eating disorders, family issues, staying healthy, being a carer.
- beyondblue
The national depression initiative website. Information, resources and links to other sites on depression, anxiety and other illnesses.
- MoodGYM
Australian National University website developed to provide cognitive behavioural therapy on-line to manage and prevent depression.
- Lifeline
24 hour telephone counselling service.
- The Black Dog Institute
Information on depression and bipolar disorder.
http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/index.cfm
- Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUFAD)
For self-help if fearful, worried, anxious or depressed.
http://www.crufad.com/
For a comprehensive range of mental health related websites, go to the beyondblue website.
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