Mental Health
This week I am putting mental health in the spotlight with R U OK? Day taking place on Thursday, 8 September and World Suicide Prevention Day on Saturday, 10 September.
Delivering quality and accessible mental health care in the primary health sector is an important responsibility for Western Victoria PHN (WVPHN). Many people in our region face complex and diverse mental health challenges. Our role is to partner with primary health providers to deliver the best available support and services.
Please find more information on some of the support/services WVPHN has partnered on below:
New GP Psychiatry Support Line:
WVPHN has launched a new service for GPs in our region, the GP Psychiatry Support Line. The Support Line is a free service for GPs that allows them to speak to a psychiatrist who can help them manage their patients’ care, assisting with advice on diagnosis, investigation, medication and safety plans. More information here.
Head to Health in Western Victoria:
Head to Health centres provide an entry service for adults seeking mental health support. The Commonwealth-funded centres offer a range of mental health assessments, treatments and supports. There are centres in Geelong and Ballarat. More information here.
Mental Health Care Training (IAR-DST):
WVPHN is encouraging General Practitioners and mental health clinicians in our region to undertake training in how to use the Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) as a reference for determining a consistent and appropriate level of care for people needing mental health assistance.
Developed by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, the IAR-DST has collected information from a range of sources including Australian and international evidence and advice from a range of leading experts. Register here
R U OK? Day
This Thursday, 8 September, is R U OK? Day and I am encouraging health professionals across western Victoria to start a conversation with patients, friends and family members because “A Conversation Can Change a Life”.
Use these four steps and have a conversation that could change a life:
- Ask R U OK?
- Listen
- Encourage action
- Check in
For resources, posters and more information on how to ask the question, please visit the R U OK Day website here.
A free presentation will also be streamed online at midday (AEST) on 8 September, with R U OK? CEO, Katherine Newton and special guests sharing conversation tips and personal stories. Register here.
World Suicide Prevention Day
This Saturday, 10 September, is World Suicide Prevention Day which reminds us that we all have a role to play in preventing suicide whether it is on World Suicide Prevention Day or any day of the year.
World Suicide Prevention Day, which is observed by more than 60 countries, aims to promote stigma reduction, policy change, help seeking, and remembering those we have lost to suicide, those who have attempted suicide, and those who are living with the grief of losing someone. Almost 10 million Australians know someone who has been impacted by suicide, that’s almost half the country.
WVPHN has a lead role in developing regionally-appropriate suicide prevention activities to support the Federal Government’s National Suicide Prevention Strategy. This work also directly responds to the National Mental Health Commission’s Review of Mental Health Services and Programs.
The Ballarat and Great South Coast Suicide Prevention Place Based Trials are two such initiatives in our region to proactively develop coordinated and collaborative strategies for reducing the rate of death by suicide.
- Latest media release: Communities Combat Suicide in the Great South Coast
For resources and posters, please visit Suicide Prevention Australia’s World Suicide Prevention Day website.
Further information for health professionals can be found on HealthPathways:
Rowena Clift
Chief Executive Officer