Primary Care Mental Health Unit

Our mission is to undertake research and teaching in the area of primary care mental health, and to collaborate with other organizations and the health professionals involved in primary care mental health, for the benefit of patients, families, and the community.

The Primary Care Mental Health Unit aims to:

1. Improve the health outcomes for individuals with mental health problems when seen in general practice,
2. Improve the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of patients with mental health problems,
3. Provide general practitioners (GPs) and GP registrars with the skills, knowledge and attitudes to effectively manage mental health problems,
4. Promote self care among GPs, other doctors and students,
5. Conduct, and disseminate the results of, research into the high prevalence mental health disorders seen in general practice,
6. Develop strategic alliances with organizations that have similar aims, and,
7. Contribute to the development of research and teaching in the Department of General Practice.

In recent years, the PCMHU has engaged in the following research and project activities:

1. Study of a primary care treatment program aiming to prevent relapse of depression (PhD study by Dr Cate Howell) involved development of a relapse prevention treatment program (including manual and relaxation CD) which is undergoing clinical trial. To be completed end of 2006, supervised by Prof J Beilby, and Prof D Turnbull.
2. A GP peer support (mental health) training package. Prof Ian Wilson and Dr Cate Howell acted as consultants to SA Divisions of General Practice.
3. Development of the Mental Health Procedures Kit, a kit including a wide range of assessment tools for mental health problems. Written by Dr Cate Howell and Brian Williamson (psychologist).
4. Biomarkers of depression. Dr Cate Howell, G.P. Advisor
   “An Integrative Approach for the detection of Biomarkers in Major Depression” study, being carried out by Flinders University and the Brain Resource Company, aims to bring together measures of brain and body function to determine the best indicators of depression and predictors of response to antidepressant medication. Dr Howell is GP Advisor.
5. Collaborated with the Adelaide North East Division of General Practice in a suicide prevention project (funded by Department of Health and Ageing) in the north east region of Adelaide. Suicide Prevention resource kit, resource card, education program developed.

Teaching

The PCMHU has developed a Level 1 BOIMHC education program on anxiety and depression. In 2005 the unit collaborated with the Adelaide NE Division of General Practice to develop a Level 1 program on suicide prevention. These programs are delivered by Dr Cate Howell and Dr Michele Murphy (psychologist).

The unit is regularly asked to speak to community groups and practice staff on mental health issues and has presented at a ‘beyondblue, the national depression initiative’ forum and the Royal Australian College of GPs in the past 12 months.

Associated clinicians

Dr Michele Murphy, Dr Sheila Clark, Dr John Wallace, Joseph Hinora, Sally Bowden, Charlotte Marshall, Wendy Hariz, Dr Meredith Frearson, Dr Samira Peera and Jane Dodding.

More information:

PCMHU Pamphlet(PDF Document, requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Level 1 (BOIMHC) Mental Health Training(PDF Document, requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)