GPQ Programs

General Practice Queensland

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Partners in Mind (PIM)


Overview

The Partners in Mind (PIM) initiative aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of Queenslanders by:
  • increasing  the capacity of general practitioners to meet consumers’ needs
  • better integrating public mental health services and general practice, including allied health and community services
The initial focus of PIM was to develop a primary mental health care framework, the Queensland Framework for Primary Mental Health Care (QFPMHC), and this was achieved through extensive consultation across the sector.

QFPMHC guides system reform and identifies a range of strategies at the local and state level to support a more integrated and effective primary mental health care system. 

The Framework strives to achieve the "ideal" primary mental health care sector through:
  1. improving linkages and increasing capacity
  2. clarifying roles
  3. increasing the understanding and use of available resources and initiatives
  4. ensuring local service provision has a consumer and carer focus
In 2007, the focus of the PIM initiative moved from development of the QFPMHC to implementation of the elements of the framework. Implementation commenced at seven sites and a Statewide Coordinator was established at GPQ.

A further five sites were established in 2009, to reach a total of twelve sites throughout Queensland. Implementation of the QFPMHC is occurring through a range of activities, including a particular focus on integrating the public mental health sector and general practice in specific sites.

The twelve implementation sites across Queensland are Townsville, Rockhampton, Emerald, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane North, Brisbane South, Ipswich, Logan, Gold Coast, Cairns, Bayside and Moreton Bay.


Objectives

In developing the QFPMHC, GPQ brought a range of Primary Mental Health Care (PMHC) stakeholders together, to identify best practice principles and systems for the provision of PMHC in Queensland.  The Framework’s aim is to improve outcomes for people with a mental illness by working towards the ‘ideal’ PMHC sector. 

The Framework identifies the ideal PMHC sector as being one where all available resources are utilised as effectively as possible; services are interconnected and work well together to ensure clients can easily navigate the system and do not fall through the gaps; provides evidence-based services to address client needs; works to identify linkages which are funded and supported; and there are enough resources to meet local demand.

The overall objective of the implementation of PIM is to improve linkages between and increase capacity of District Mental Health Services (DMHS) and divisions of general practice in the twelve identified sites, so they can effectively implement elements of the Framework.  Effective implementation will lead to improved outcomes for people with a mental illness by working towards the ideal PMHC sector as described above. 

The Framework is now used as a broader reference document, to which PIM and future programs and/or organisations may aspire.


Program detail

The PIM initiative consists of six action areas, which are:
  1. Partnership and Joint Planning
  2. Education and Training
  3. Resource Development
  4. Policy, Processes and Procedures
  5. Establishing New Positions/Programs
  6. Linking With Existing Initiatives/Programs
Implementation of the project is the joint responsibility of the local divisions / Medicare Locals and DMHS.  The PIM sites are supported by the state-wide coordinator at GPQ and the PIM website, which contains useful information and resources and will be updated throughout the course of the project.  The current funding period ceased in October 2011.


Primary Care Liaison Officers

As part of the Queensland Plan for Mental Health 2007-2017, Queensland Health has established a number of Primary Care Liaison Officer (PCLO) positions.  A key responsibility of PCLOs is to guide the implementation of the PIM initiative within a specified PIM site.

PCLOs support and enhance the capacity of private mental health care service providers to respond to the needs of people with mental health problems and disorders through system reform, including developing partnerships, strengthening linkages, facilitating joint planning, improving processes and procedures, providing education and professional advice, establishing new programs and improving the use of existing resources. They also work to increase Mental Health Service capacity to collaborate and provide continuity of service.


Evaluations

In 2009, an independent evaluation of the PIM initiative was conducted. Results from this evaluation indicated success in achieving the objectives of the program, most notably through improved relationships, collaboration and communication between key stakeholders and partners.

Late 2010 saw the development of a self-evaluation framework for the PIM initiative. The purpose of this evaluation framework and corresponding self-evaluation tool is to capture the achievements of individual PIM sites as identified by key stakeholders within each site. The process of self-evaluation is currently in its first phase of implementation, and preliminary results show positive outcomes at the local level.

The results of the self-evaluation will be used to guide future quality improvement action and encourage collaboration and sharing of strategies between PIM sites. This process will be ongoing as the self-evaluation is to be repeated on a yearly basis.



Resources

Website

PIM Workshop (20 October 2011)

General resources



Together we can build a better health system

Last updated: 19/03/2012 Print this page