Posted 20 Jan 2009 - 11:33 by root
Can Do Managing Drug and Alcohol Issues and Mental Health Comorbidity in the General Practice Setting
The 'Can Do' Managing Drug and Alcohol Issues and Mental Health Comorbidity in the General Practice Setting is a project designed to raise awareness and increase clinical knowledge and skills in the general practice setting for the management and treatment of drug use and mental health comorbidity. The Can Do project is funded through the Department of Health & Ageing and is a part of the National Comorbidity project.
The Can Do project is designed to bring GPs, mental health professionals, alcohol and other drug professionals and community pharmacists together. The first of the two modules is a series of six, two-hour workshops. The format of these has as its goal to break down the barriers by demystifying the roles of each service, providing an opportunity for face-to-face contact in an informal setting, and through working collaboratively on case studies.
The 6 hour clinical education training module the second module, is designed to improve participants' knowledge and confidence in assessment and management techniques, as well as their recognition of when calling in other services is beneficial to their patients.
'Can Do' has expanded and now includes modules that target specific population groups. For example, 'Can Do' for Young People, Families and Carers investigates the needs of general practice teams in working with young people. This module specifically focuses on the education and training needs of GPs in relation to improved networking capacity with community health services and pathways of care that best suit young people with comorbidity issues.
Another example is the 'Teams of Two' co morbidity network training also focussing on professional networking, peer learning and multidisciplinary team work in the local context, using case discussion to address and map access, treatment, referral and review pathways for people with complex mental and drug health needs.
Other areas covered through this project include
Veterans, Families and Carers, Young People Families and Carers, Older People, Men in Rural Areas, Young Mothers and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse populations.
The Clinical Education module is delivered online and the AGPN has sought ongoing CPD points for GPs, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, pharmacists and psychologists.
Through the AGPN website, you can also access much of the training materials in pdf format, provided to GPs in these modules
Remember to include your local division with information and when promoting initiatives and other activities such as Drug Action Week.
More information on these modules is available at http://www.agpncando.com/
The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing has provided $2,000,000 to the Building on ‘Can Do' Grants Program to fund divisions of general practice to further develop their capacity in the area of mental health and substance use and build on the success of the ‘Can Do' Initiative. Applications closed 13 AMarch2009.
Divisions were invited to apply for funding to increase their capacity to build on and consolidate the networking, referral pathways and improved strategies established under the Can Do program. It was also recognised that benefits could be gained by improving linkages and networking opportunities between the primary mental health care sector, general practice and organisations in receipt of an Improved Services for People with Drug and Alcohol Problems and Mental Illness Initiative Capacity Building Grant.
It is anticipated that Divisions will be notified of if successful by the end of April 2009. A formal announcement of the awarded grants will be made at the Primary Mental Health Care Forum to be held on the 12th & 13th May 2009 in Sydney. For more information regarding the forum, please click here.