Part 1: Introduction
About the General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration
Mission statement
The GPMHSC works to achieve optimal mental health and wellbeing for the Australian population, by implementing a multidisciplinary approach to education, policy and advocacy, and by supporting GPs to deliver quality primary mental health care.
Governance
The GPMHSC is a multidisciplinary body funded by the Australian Government under the Better Access initiative. The GPMHSC is managed by the RACGP, which provides secretariat services and chairs the GPMHSC Committee.
Membership
The GPMHSC includes representatives from general practice, psychiatry, psychology and the community.
The GPMHSC comprises:
- representatives from the RACGP, the ACRRM, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and the Australian Psychological Society, as nominated by those bodies
- a carer representative and a consumer representative, both nominated by Mental Health Australia.
The role of the GPMHSC
The GPMHSC:
- establishes standards for general practice training in mental health in relation to the Better Access initiative
- accredits skills training related to general practice mental health care
- promotes accredited general practice training in mental health that aims to develop GPs’ knowledge of, and skills in, detecting and treating mental illness
- promotes the uptake of MBS mental health items under the Better Access initiative
- develops resources that support GPs to provide mental health services
- regularly informs the general practice sector about current mental health issues
- contributes to developing policies relating to general practice and mental health.
The role of the GPMHSC Secretariat
The GPMHSC Secretariat:
- pre-adjudicates courses before the GPMHSC Committee completes a formal adjudication
- pre-adjudicates applications from GPs seeking exemption from completing mental health courses
- adjudicates Mental Health Continuing Professional Development (MH CPD) and Focussed Psychological Strategies Continuing Professional Development (FPS CPD) in accordance with the GPMHSC training standards
- provides Medicare with the details of GPs who are eligible to claim Better Access initiative MBS item numbers
- develops resources relating to primary mental health care and the Better Access initiative for GPs and training providers
- supports the GPMHSC Chair and Committee
- responds to general enquiries from GPs, practice managers, training providers, Primary Health Networks and other stakeholders about GPMHSC-accredited training and the Better Access initiative, and provides ongoing communication, marketing and support to help them implement the GPMHSC standards.