Improving the mental health of Australians: A renewed call for primary care psychiatry

Abstract

Objective To describe different ways to improve liaison between psychiatrists and general practitioners in Australia. Conclusion Strengthening the links between psychiatry and GPs in primary care is an effective approach to improve the mental health of Australians.

A model of care for attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder among adults in the community

“…9 Psychiatrists at IUIH provide a consultation-liaison type care to referring General Practitioners (GPs) working within the network. 10 Most GP referrals are related to diagnostic clarification and/or medication management options. We have observed a noticeable increase in the referral of adults presenting with a request for ADHD assessment in recent years.…”

The mental health crisis needs more than increased investment in the mental health system

“…In terms of the psychiatry workforce, more training needs to be provided to care for people with mental health difficulties in primary health settings. For this, psychiatry trainees should have more training positions and experience in GP liaison settings where they have exposure to high prevalence mental disorders in a supervised environment while building relationships with primary health colleagues 11 . Further, the psychiatry training curriculum should emphasise the social justice and human rights frameworks and put more focus on acquiring skills in leadership and public advocacy 7,8 …”