Mental Health Drug & Alcohol Workforce

When you have an emotional or mental health concern your GP is a great place to start. They can assess your overall health to make sure there are no physical reasons contributing to the way you are feeling.  A GP can also prepare a mental health plan, refer you to the right mental health professional and prescribe appropriate medicines if required.

Why go to see a GP over a concern that you think will eventually pass?

• A minor concern could develop into something more serious if ignored.
• Recurrent concerns (like feeling anxious) can impact on your quality of life and lead to other problems.
• Seeing a GP regularly can help you to learn more about the support available to you, and helps your GP to better understand your needs.

(Reference: Mental Health Foundation) 

Your GP can also refer you to mental health services, including psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health nurses or public Mental Health Services (Murrumbidgee Local Health District Services).

It is important to find a doctor with whom you are comfortable being completely open and honest.

A trusting, long-term relationship with a GP is the best way to ensure you receive consistent, quality healthcare throughout your life.

(Reference: Royal Australian Collage of General Practitioners)

The National Health Services Directory (NHSD) provides easy access to reliable and consistent information about health services for everyone. You can find information about health services such as contact details, location, opening hours, wheelchair access and bulk billing services.

Your GP wants you to get the most out of your visit to their practice so you leave with all your questions answered. Use the tips below to make your visit a success:

• Make a list of all the things you want to ask your GP about so you don’t forget anything
• Be open and honest. Everything you tell your GP is kept confidential
• Don’t be afraid to ask embarrassing questions, your GP is trained to answer them!
• If you’ve done some of your own research on the internet before seeing your GP and you’re worried about what it says, print it off and show your GP
• If you have lots of items you wish to discuss with your GP in one visit, book a longer appointment so neither of you feel rushed
• If your GP isn’t familiar with your medical history, ensure you let them know about any prior illnesses or family history that may be relevant to your visit.

(Reference: Royal Australian Collage of General Practitioners)

Black Dog Institute – Finding a Mental Health Friendly Doctor 

mindhealthconnect – Talking to your doctor (GP) about mental health

Everyone’s treatment needs are different. Your GP will assess whether the preparation of a Mental Health Treatment Plan is appropriate for you.

When developing a Mental Health Treatment Plan your GP will first assess your presenting concerns, relevant history, assess risk and complete an assessment tool by asking a series of questions. They will then work with you to document your needs, goals, treatment, referrals and relapse prevention plan.

• Your GP will ask for your consent and will write you a referral to an appropriate mental health professional.

• Referral options include: 
  Private practitioner
  Better Access (Medicare)
  Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network Commissioned Mental Health Services

• If you have a mental health treatment plan, you are eligible for Medicare rebates for 10 individual and 10 group sessions with a mental health professional per calendar year under the Better Access Initiative – Fact Sheet For Patients
• You will need to find out from the mental health professional if they are registered to provide Better Access and if you are required to pay a gap fee. Your GP may refer you to a mental health professional they are aware of, or you can request a referral for one that you know of. The below directories might be able to help you to find a mental health professional with experience in your current situation:
• Find a Psychologist
• Find a Psychiatrist
• Find a Social Worker
• Find a Private Practice Occupational Therapist

Once you have identified an appropriate mental health professional, contact them directly for any questions about their practice, fees and appointments.

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network commissions a range of free services across the Murrumbidgee district to assist in improving the mental health of people that would otherwise have little or no access to mental health services, such as Better Access (Medicare).

Psychiatrists can provide a wide range of treatments, according to the particular problem and what will work best for you and your situation. These include:

• medication
• general medical care, including checking your physical health and the effects of medication
• psychological treatments
• brain stimulation therapies such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Psychiatrists tend to treat people who need their medical, psychological and social needs considered.

These are usually people with complex conditions, for example:

• severe depression
• schizophrenia
• bipolar disorder

Someone who has attempted suicide or has suicidal thoughts will usually be seen by a psychiatrist.

(Reference: The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists) 

As with all medical specialists, to see a psychiatrist you will need a referral from your GP.

To access an online directory of Psychiatrists in Australia and New Zealand, see: Your Health in Mind – Find a Psychiatrist

To get the most out of your visit to a psychiatrist so you leave with all your questions answered. Use the tips below to make your visit a success:

• Make a list of all the things you want to ask your Psychiatrist about so you don’t forget anything
• Be open and honest. Everything you tell your Psychiatrist is kept confidential
• Don’t be afraid to ask embarrassing questions, your Psychiatrist is trained to answer them!
• If you’ve done some of your own research on the internet before seeing your Psychiatrist and you’re worried about what it says, print it off and show it to them
• If your Psychiatrist isn’t familiar with your family and medical history, ensure you let them know about any prior illnesses or family history that may be relevant to your visit.

There are many reasons why you might see a psychologist. For example, you might be experiencing anxiety, depression, stressful life events or any other mental health difficulty. You might not even know what’s going on, but just feel that you haven’t been ‘right’ or that your life has become more difficult. A psychologist is trained to perform a detailed assessment of your mental health and to identify what’s going on for you.

No matter what your reason for seeking help, it’s important to find a psychologist you can connect with and trust. You may have to meet a few before you find one that clicks for you.

(Reference: Reach Out) 

The best place to start is with your GP, who can provide you with a Mental Health Treatment Plan and refer you to a psychologist. Your GP should know of some psychologists in your area, or may recommend that you ring a psychology clinic directly for more information about making an appointment. By getting a referral from your GP, at least some, if not all, of your costs should be covered by Medicare under the Better Access initiative or Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network mental health services – see your GP to find out if you’re are eligible.

(Reference: Reach Out) 

To access an online directory of Psychologists, see: Find a Psychologist

The first time you visit any psychologist they should always talk to you about confidentiality, which is your right to privacy, and basically means that anything you discuss with them will remain private between the two of you.

The next thing a psychologist will do is complete an assessment of your mental health, by asking you a series of questions about what’s happening in your life, as well as asking for details about your background, family life and personal history. The assessment is an important first step, as it will help your psychologist understand what’s troubling you and, more importantly, how to help you. They’ll discuss with you a plan for continuing, including how often they recommend you visit them, and for how long.

Normally, they will recommend that you visit them weekly or fortnightly for a period of time. The length of time for your treatment can vary from a few weeks to many months, depending on what you need. An appointment usually lasts about 50 minutes but can sometimes go for longer.

(Reference: Reach Out) 

Australian Psychological Society – Find a Psychologist 

Department of Health – Better Access – Fact Sheet

Reach Out – Psychologists

A Mental Health Nurse can provide therapeutic interventions and treatment to support social, physical and mental health, including: Medication education and management, being a liaison point between GPs and psychiatrists, monitoring mood, and providing counselling to manage and contain psychological distress.

(Reference: Australian College of Mental Health Nurses) 

The mental health nurse can:

• work with you to plan your recovery
• help educate you, your family and your doctor about your mental illness and its treatment
• support you to talk to your doctor about mental health
• provide counselling and strategies to deal with emotional difficulties and stress
• help you deal with your symptoms and any medication you take
• link with health professionals involved in your care, like your doctor, a psychologist or psychiatrist, to make sure you get the most appropriate treatment
• help with services like Centrelink, housing and community programs
• talk to your family and support people, if you want
• help you review your mental health care plan with your doctor.

(Reference: mindhealthconnect) 

Ask your GP or Psychiatrist for a referral or to find out if you are eligible for Murrumbidgee PHNs Team Care Service.

Australian College of Mental Health Nurses

mindhealthconnect

A Social Worker can provide therapy, casework, advocacy, mediation or group-work to individuals, couples, or families to address difficulties associated with mental illness. They also provide people with information about services that can assist them (Reference:jobs guide).

An Occupational Therapist can conduct tests to assess functional, psychological, and physical capabilities, plan therapeutic programmes for individuals and design activities that improve an affected function, and help individuals to regain personal care skills and  assist people to gain or regain skills in social, leisure and work environments through graded individual or group therapy and activity programmes (Reference: jobs guide).

Ask your GP for a referral or to access a directory see below:

Australian Association of Social Workers – Find a Social Worker 

Occupational Therapy Australia – Find a Private Practice OT

Australian Association of Social Workers

Occupational Therapy Australia

Drug and Alcohol Workers provide a range of services to people (and their partners, families and carers) whose physical and or mental health and personal and social functioning is at risk due to substance use.

Drug and Alcohol Workers can:

• Provide information about the effects and risks of substance use
• Help you to understand what might trigger you to use a substance
• Help you to consider the environment you use the substance in and make it safe
• Provide information about the effects of combining more than one substance and how substances might interact with medication you’re already taking
• Help you to access clean injecting equipment if you’re using needles
• Help you to reduce or cease using substances
• Offer counselling or therapy to address issues that may have led to or resulted from your substance use

• Ask your GP for a referral to a local drug and alcohol service best suited to your needs or
• Call AccessLine on 1800 800 944 (free) to help guide you to the information or treatment you are seeking.
• For information on MPHN commissioned Drug and Alcohol services click here

Consumer Peer Workers are able to support people they are working with by offering personal encouragement, empathy, hope, consideration, respect and empowerment from the vantage point of a person who has experienced mental illness or substance use issues.

Consumer Peer Workers can:

• Support people who access a service to have more involvement in their care and an improved experience of care
• Assist with resolving issues or seeking clarity about a person’s care and treatment options
• Help to restore hope and personal power and inspire people to move forward with their lives. For example, sharing stories of recovery with a person accessing mental health or drug and alcohol services, facilitating a peer support group, helping a person to build the confidence to make their own choices
• Assist consumers to understand their rights and responsibilities when accessing a mental health service and advocate on their behalf in decisions relating to their care
• Assist with improved mental health, social and emotional wellbeing, and physical health. For example, supporting access to services in the community and/or organising group activities which support wellbeing (e.g. walking groups)
• Provide education from a lived experience perspective for consumers, people working in mental health drug and alcohol services and/or general community members.
• Attempt to resolve collective issues at an organisational, systemic, community and/or leadership level. For example, advocating for changes to policies and procedures within a service, or representing the interests of consumers in decision-making processes.

• Consumer Peer Workers are employed by many mental health and drug and alcohol services. They often work alongside other practitioners.
• If you are currently accessing a service, ask your treating practitioner to put you in contact with a Consumer Peer Worker.
• For information on MPHN commissioned Drug and Alcohol services click here
• Call AccessLine on 1800 800 944 (free) to help guide you to the information or treatment you are seeking.