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Mental Health Award
Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health) Award for Excellence in the Provision of Mental Health Services
Background:
Mental Health is a major health issue and priority area for the NSW Government. The Government has led significant investment in Mental Health Services, and substantially increased funding for Mental Health services over the past five years, in the context of increasing prevalence and complexity of mental health problems and disorders.
Aims:
To recognise and showcase the significant efforts of clinicians and managers in improving the quality and safety of mental health patient care and to encourage innovation and improved practice.
Finalists for this award
Mental Health Emergency Care – Rural Access Program (MHEC-RAP) - Greater West Area Health Service
Large distances and staff shortages mean that rural hospitals are unable to provide skilled mental health assessments and management for patients with mental health emergencies. The response is costly and often dangerous transportation to distant inpatient psychiatric units, often with police and ambulance. Frequently, such transfers are later seen as unnecessary.
The Mental Health Emergency Care (MHEC) provides thorough assessment by video-link by 24/7 mental health nursing staff who have been specifically trained and supported by psychiatrists. After 12 months of operation the service has very high stakeholder (patients, nurses, GPs, Police, Ambulance) satisfaction and has increased ED nurses skills and confidence, has dramatically reduced unnecessary transports and associated costs and risks.
Postcards from the EDge – halving the rate of repeat suicide attempts - Hunter New England Area Health Service
We studied 772 patients with deliberate self poisoning (attempted suicide) treated at the Calvary Mater Newcastle. We compared sending eight postcards over 12 months (plus standard treatment) with standard treatment alone.
We looked at the number of repeat admissions for attempted suicide per person. The number of repetitions was halved. Thus the postcard intervention reduced re-presentation of attempted suicide by half over a 12-month period (Carter et al. 2005c).
We followed this up with an assessment at 24 months where we showed there remained a significant reduction in the rate of repeat suicide attempts. Thus, over a two year period the postcard intervention maintained a halving of the rate of re-presentation to hospital for attempted suicide (Carter et al. 2007b).
The Time Map: a practical clinical and training tool - Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service
The Time Map kit was developed for use in a clinical setting to map a comprehensive history with a young person experiencing a first episode of psychosis. This collaborative tool assists with the mapping of emerging psychotic symptoms, substance use and life events on a timeline. The kit includes tools to assist the clinician in providing psycho-education and developing relapse prevention and recovery plans collaboratively with the young person.
In NSCCH training on "Best Practice in Early Psychosis" was offered to any clinician who has contact with young people experiencing a first episode of psychosis. Clinicians from a non- mental health background found the Time Map most useful in helping them understand psychosis and develop skills in assessment and clinical interventions.
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