Managing Mental Health and Substance Abuse in General Practice

The ‘Can Do’ initiative aims to improve the capacity of General Practice and Divisions to recognise and effectively respond to mental health and substance use in their community through: 

• The implementation of structured education and training focused on multi-disciplinary team approaches and covering the coordination of care assessment, treatment and referral for service users who present with mental health and substance use conditions. 
• The adaptation, dissemination and uptake of accredited resources and materials that enhance General Practice understanding of co-existing mental health and substance use conditions.

A ‘Teams of Two’ Network Training education module, which focuses on professional networking, peer learning and multi-disciplinary team work in the local context using case discussions to address and map access, treatment, referral and review pathways for people with complex mental and drug health needs. Topics covered include: 

• Alcohol and depression 
• Benzodiazepines and anxiety 
• Cannabis, mental health and young people 
• Amphetamines and psychosis 
• Drugs, pain and opioid dependence 
• Drugs, sexual health and pregnancy

The modules have been accredited with RACGP and ACCRM for QA and CPD points and have been endorsed by the Royal College of Nursing Australia and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.

Achievements

The Capricornia Division has successfully run 3 units at 2 events in Rockhampton, and 1 in Gladstone, with the focus to run further education topics in all areas of the Division in 2008. The project has provided for the collaboration and drawing together of a variety of government and non-government organisations, as well as community pharmacists, allied health professionals, General Practitioners, Psychologists, Psychiatrists and other mental health service professionals.

For further information regarding Can Do, Teams of Two, you can go to the Can Do website or you can contact Connie on 07 4921 7738.