For GPs

Emerging Minds: Improving child mental health outcomes in Primary Health Care

 

Child mental health presentations are becoming increasingly common in primary care, with families and children experiencing a range of issues including school refusal, behavioural difficulties and anxiety. General practices are usually the first port of call for these families, meaning that practices and PHNs are pivotal parts of a coordinated system of support for children and families.  

Referral pathways are often sought for these families, but did you know that with some additional training GPs can deliver a range of mental health supports and interventions to children and families?  

In fact, the whole practice team can play a role supporting patients, including practice nurses, other clinical staff and patient-facing non-clinical staff. Practices can introduce tangible changes that work to make children and families feel more at ease to talk about mental health and wellbeing. These might include making waiting rooms more child and family friendly, reviewing appointment booking processes, and including questions about child and family experiences in patient feedback form.  

PHNs can support practices through workforce development and quality improvement activities that coordinate with their commissioning of both adult and child services, and regional planning to create structural supports in their regions.  

So, whether you work in a PHN, as a clinician or in a non-clinical role, you can access free, evidence-based resources and training for you and for families from Emerging Minds.