Mental Health Resources

New MBS Item Numbers for Mental Health

Referral Templates for GPs

Outcome Tools

Paediatric Symptoms Checklist (3-16 year olds)

Strenghts and Difficulties Questionnaire (4-17 year olds)

ATAPS Program

CBT Training and Patient Self-Help Modules

Local Mental Health Providers Directory

Useful Mental Health Links

Consumer Information and Resources

GP RESOURCES AND INFORMATION

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.

Referral Templates for GPs

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

Strenghts 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:

Local Mental Health Service Providers

Psychologists

Alternatively, on the website of the Australian Psychological Society you will find a list of psychologists in NSW: http://www.psychology.org.au/prac_resources/medicare/providerlists/

For a searchable database on psychologists who are members of the APS, go to http://www.psychology.org.au/FindaPsychologist/Default.aspx?ID=1204

Psychiatrists

For patient management advice from psychiatrists within 24 hours, by phone, fax or email, contact GP Psych Support on: https://www.psychsupport.com.au/default_home.asp or phone 1800 200 588.

Drug and Alcohol Services

GP Mental Health Education

• The General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration is responsible for establishing and monitoring mental health education for GPs. For more information click here: http://www.racgp.org.au/mentalhealth/gpmhsc
• The Black Dog Institute is based in Sydney and runs regular mental health education workshops and seminars for GPs. For more information click here: http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/clinicians/overview/index.cfm
• Online mental health training for GPs is available from RACGP’s gplearning service at: http://www.racgp.org.au/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/
• Alcohol and Other Drugs resources (Alliance of NSW Divisions -click on Programs, then Alcohol and Other Drugs) http://www.answd.com.au/
• Information on a range of drugs http://www.beyondblue.org.au/
• beyondblue, national depression initiative site http://www.crufad.unsw.edu.au/
• Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUFAD) site http://bluepages.anu.edu.au/
• Several organisations including Australian National University and Centre for Mental Health Research contribute to this site http://moodgym.edu.au/
• Anxiety and Depression prevention site. CBT online http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/
• A large Australian Health site with high quality information http://www.acpm.org.au/
• The Australian College of Psychological Medicine site http://www.sane.org/
• SANE Australia. Information, education, research www.mentalhealth.asn.au/home.htm
• Mental Health Association NSW Inc. Wide range of factsheets http://www.reachout.com.au/
• ReachOut – support for young people http://www.depressionet.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:

• http://www.mentalhealth.asn.au/resources/caring_for_someone_with_mi.htm
• Click here for beyondblue factsheets

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.