Formally known as the Improving the Physical Health of People with a Severe Mental Illness project.
Overview
Objectives
Project detail
Achievements
Resources
For further information
Overview
In June 2008, General Practice Queensland (GPQ) received funding from Queensland Health to undertake a comprehensive investigation (Consultation Project) into addressing the physical health needs of people with a severe mental illness (SMI). The Consultation project included a detailed literature review and state wide consultation process, with the aim to provide recommendations for the next phase of Activate: Mind and Body.
The state wide consultation included 205 participants comprising of key primary mental health care stakeholders within Queensland such as:
- general practitioners (GPs) and other primary health care providers;
- government and non-government mental health service providers, including indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) agencies;
- consumers and carers.
The current (second) phase of the project is the State Development Phase and is co led by GPQ and Metro South Health District.
Objectives
The core objective of the project is to improve the physical and oral health of people with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) by building the capacity of:- divisions of general practice
- general practitioners (GPs)
- specialist mental health
- non-government and community agencies
- consumers and carers
Project detail
Activate: Mind and Body is governed by a state level steering committee with members from GPQ, public mental health services, non government organisations, oral health, universities, consumers, carers and general practitioners. Three working groups, General Practice, Public Mental Health and Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention, have been established to support the steering committee in actioning the project implementation plan.
The three working groups are currently undertaking activities that will produce the key deliverables for the State Development Phase. These deliverables include:
- Development of an evaluation framework,
- Resource development for service providers, consumers and carers which include a Physical Health Mental Health Handbook, Physical Health Guidelines for Mental Health Services and a Consumer Health Information Card,
- Education and training modules developed for service providers, consumers and carers,
- Development of a state-wide health promotion plan including health promotion resources,
- Development of a plan to increase the oral health of people with SMI,
- Development of a plan for future project implementation ( two years),
Delivery and implementation throughout the state will be undertaken in the third phase of the project which will commence in June 2010.
Project Team
- Dr Aaron Groves – Senior Director of Mental Health, Queensland Health. Project Sponsor
- Dr David Crompton – Executive Director, Mental Health, Metro South Health Service District . Project Manager.
- Sarah Scott – Mental Health Branch (MHB), Queensland Health representative
- Karen Hale-Robertson – Senior Program Leader, Mental Health GPQ
- Vicki Green – Team Leader, Metro South Health Service District
- Michelle Underhill- Program Coordinator, GPQ
- Peter Kohleis – Principal Project Officer, Metro South Health Service District
- Lauren Smith – Program Officer, GPQ
- Metro South - Administration Officer, Metro South Health Service District
Achievements
The final report derived from the discussion paper and consultation was submitted for review in January 2009. The recommendations where accepted and the project is now into the second phase which includes the development and implementation of strategies and resources to improve the physical health of people with SMI.Resources
For further information
Please contact: Michelle Underhill, Program Coordinator – Activate: Mind & Body at munderhill@gpqld.com.au
To be added to the Activate: Mind and Body mailing list for updates, please contact: Lauren Smith, Program Officer - Mental Health at lsmith@gpqld.com.au