Mental Health Resources
GP RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
ACCREDITED MENTAL HEALTH SKILLS TRAINING (MHST) COURSES
The following courses are listed on the GP Mental Health Standards Collaboration website. Not all face-to-face courses are listed as some providers do not want their courses advertised. Therefore, you may hear of courses eg Takeaway Mental Health, which are accredited but not listed below.
| Accredited Mental Health Skills Training (MHST) courses |
PDF (23KB) |
| (online and NSW face-to-face training options) |
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PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH - HOW TO REFER TO PERINATAL ATAPS SERVICE?
| Patient Brochure “What is the Perinatal ATAPS program?” |
PDF (88KB) |
ATAPS Program
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/
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
Referral Pathways for GPs - Youth Health
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Mental Health /Drug & Alcohol Patient Pathways for Young People |
PDF (90KB) |
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Directories of Mental Health Service Providers
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Directory of Local Mental Health Service Providers (12 Mar 2010) |
PDF (204KB) |
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Local psychologists are under “Psychologist” in the directory (12 Mar 2010) |
PDF (68KB) |
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Local psychiatrists are under “Psychiatrist - Private” in the directory |
PDF (154KB) |
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Detox and Rehab Services available to SE Sydney Residents |
PDF (321 KB) |
| Alcohol & Other Drugs Services in SE Sydney Residents |
PDF (85 KB) |
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Eating Disorders Services Directory |
PDF (58 KB) |
Template for Health Professionals/Services:
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 here - word template (66KB)
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
- Information and fact sheets on alcohol and illicit drugs.
- Australian Drug Foundation’s Australian Drug Information Network. - Links to a wide range of organisations and resources
- beyondblue, national depression initiative site
- infrapsych for health professionals
- Black Dog Institute is a not-for-profit, educational, research, clinical and community-oriented facility offering specialist expertise in depression and bipolar disorder.
- Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUFAD)
- Several organisations including Australian National University and Centre for Mental Health Research contribute to this site.
- Anxiety and Depression prevention site. CBT online
- Australian Health site a large site with high quality information
- Australian College of Psychological Medicine
- SANE Australia. Information, education, research.
- Mental Health Association NSW Inc. Wide range of factsheets
- ReachOut – support for young people
- Multicultural Mental Health Australia. Keep up-to-date with the latest information on resources, services, research, conferences and events relating to multicultural mental health
- List of websites providing translated mental health information
- List of bilingual mental health professionals throughout Australia
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Reducing Stigma - An educational tool to assist both mental health workers and consumer & carers to develop strategies within their communities to reduce stigma.
- Other links are available in the consumer section below this page.
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 (beyonblue website) 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
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