10-18 October is Queensland Mental Health Week.
General practice plays a key role in promoting a mentally healthy community, and this year as part of QMHW you’re encouraged to ‘Take time for mental health‘.
How to get involved:
- Raise awareness and wear purple for positivity and empowerment and/or green for hope, strength, and support during 10-18 October.
- Organise a team morning tea or a lunch get together.
- Invite colleagues for a 10 minute group meditation using the TEN app for health professionals.
Incorporate a Quality Improvement activity:
- Build a mentally healthy workplace. Visit the RU OK webpage or and the Heads Up website for a range of resources and education.
- Proactively recall your patients at risk by using the PENCAT recipes to identify the patients eligible for a mental health treatment plan, or offer welfare checks to males over 75 that can be eligible for a health assessment.
- Upskill your knowledge with suicide prevention skills training. The QPR ‘gatekeeper’ training is a great place to start and takes just 30 minutes to complete. The Alliance for Suicide Prevention Sunshine Coast also offers a range of free evidence-based training programs.
Resources
- QLD Mental Health Week printable resources
- Brief guide to local mental health pathways
- COVID-19 support lines
Further education
- GP Psychiatry Support Line pre-recorded webinars (RACGP & ACCRM accredited)
- Online mental health skills training for nurses
- NCI mental health and psychology*
*please note, if you would like an NCI membership, contact Pracsupportct@ourphn.org.au to organise.
If you have a particular interest in mental health, alcohol, and other drugs, we would like to hear from you.
The PHN has a wide range of opportunities that may interest you.