A new approach to mental health care is being trialled in selected general practices in Port Macquarie.
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The approach assesses mental health care needs and where required provides more intensive support to patients. Initial feedback indicates patients are benefiting from the additional services.
Patients waiting to see their GP are being asked to complete a short mental health and well-being survey on an iPad.
The survey is completely voluntary and patients identifying mental health concerns are invited to take part in the Link-me trial.
Support to patients with complex mental health needs is provided by a Care Navigator who is based in the general practice and collaborates with the patient’s GP.
The Care Navigator also works directly with the patient to help them identify what they would like to improve and link them to relevant psychosocial and healthcare services. Currently, 70 people in Port Macquarie have been offered Care Navigation.
Director Integration Mid North Coast, Steve Mann said North Coast Primary Health Network has been fortunate to be one of only three areas in Australia involved in this key area of national research.
“The participating ‘Link-Me’ general practices and their patients with complex mental health needs have demonstrated a strong commitment to innovation over the last six months and we appreciate their outstanding efforts,” Mr Mann said.
“We are confident these kinds of research opportunities will enable our GPs, families and carers in our region understand the best use of the limited number of health professionals we have available. As well as how the system might more collaboratively support these vulnerable community members based on what is proven to help individuals on their journey to recovery.”
Initial feedback indicates patients are benefiting from the Link-me trial and services provided by the Care Navigators.
“I’m not only feeling stronger and more confident but the best feeling is having the dark clouds leave and feel a sense of happiness within myself… I have an inner strength and new skills and tools which I will never stop using so I’m the one in control of my depression and anxiety and not the other way around,” one participant said.
Link-me is a randomised controlled trial and a collaboration between the University of Melbourne and the North Coast Primary Health Network and is funded by the Department of Health.
The trial ends on 30 December 2018 and participants will be surveyed at regular intervals in 2019 to measure whether there is an improvement in their mental health condition.
