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Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care
The Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care program (BOIMH) is funded by the Commonwealth to improve community access to quality primary mental health services. The Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) component of the program allows for the brokerage of services by allied health professionals to assist GPs in the support of their patients through evidence-based psychological strategies.
The program offers mental health counselling services provided by allied health professionals (such as psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, mental health nurses and aboriginal health workers) via referral from GPs.
Family Relationships Counselling Service
Relationships Australia has been contracted by the Division to provide counselling services to clients referred by their GP for help in dealing with issues stemming from relationships, anxiety, anger, stress, depression, grief, loss, and adjustment.
For more information go to the Publications and Forms tab and download a brochure, contact the Division or visit the Relationships Australia Website http://www.relationships.com.au/
Better Access
The initiative, known as Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and GPs through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), was developed as a core element of the Government’s contribution to the COAG mental health package - a five-year, $1.9 billion contribution to reform Australia’s mental health system.
Overview
Since November 2006, Medicare rebates have been available for GPs to provide early intervention, assessment and management of patients with mental disorders, as part of a GP Mental Health Care Plan.
A new GP Mental Health consultation item will be available for GPs to provide continuing management of patients with mental disorders.
New items will also be available for up to 12 individual and/or 12 group allied mental health services per calendar year to patients with an assessed mental disorder who are referred by:
· a medical practitioner managing the patient under a GP Mental Health Care Plan or under a psychiatrist assessment and management plan; or
· a psychiatrist or paediatrician.
Allied mental health services under this initiative include psychological assessment and therapy provided by eligible clinical psychologists, and focussed psychological strategies provided by eligible psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists.
This initiative will allow psychiatrists and paediatricians to directly refer patients with mental disorders to clinical psychologists and other allied mental health professionals for Medicare-rebatable services for the first time.
It will also promote greater interaction between medical practitioners and allied mental health professionals, with GPs having greater scope to shape and direct the treatment of mental disorders through the new GP Mental Health Care Plan item.
Psychiatrists will also be supported to see more new patients under this initiative and will be encouraged to involve GPs more in the management of patients, where appropriate.
This initiative includes funding for education and training to help ensure that the relevant professions are well-equipped to recognise and treat mental illness.
The Better Access initiative will increase community access to mental health professionals and team-based mental health care, with general practitioners encouraged to work more closely and collaboratively with psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and other allied mental health professionals.
Useful Mental Health Links
Beyond Blue:
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id="&gclid=CO-F-ISc-okCFQQHTQodjjkGRww
Depression Net:
http://www.depnet.com.au/
Drug and Alcohol Office:
http://www.dao.health.wa.gov.au/AboutDAO/WorkforceDevelopment/training@DAOSemester22007/tabid/216/Default.aspx?PageContentID="128
For more information about this program contact the project officer | 
