Context: The high prevalence mental health conditions are recognized as being common, and having substantial associated disease burden. A range of health promotion, preventive, and primary care developments over recent decades have resulted in improvements in the disease burden of many chronic medical conditions. However, the health sector has struggled to find effective solutions to lessening the disease burden of the common mental health conditions. The increased funding flowing into Primary Care in NZ over the past 3–5 years has provided an opportunity to improve the capacity of primary care to meet patient's mental health needs.
Objectives: This symposium will present a very brief summary of relevant research regarding the face of mental health in primary care, and will then present an overview of the development of an award-winning mental health programme within a large primary care organization (450 GPs, 750,000 patients) in Auckland, along with highlighting key lessons learned. The perspectives of the programme psychiatrist/clinical director, GP leader, and a senior psychologist, will be presented, along with a range of illustrative outcome and quality data.
Key messages:
Primary Care is complex, with multiple demands competing for limited time – changing practice takes time!
Consistent effort identifying and addressing barriers to meeting MH need is required.
Funding extended time with GPs/Nurses, and providing ready access to funded brief psychological intervention, have been key to success.
Conclusions: With consistent effort and a little funding, progress is possible and achievable!
