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Patients benefit from new free service

August 25, 2004

A free service, matching referred patients from New England GPs with clinical psychologists from the University of New England, has been given unanimous support by all parties involved.
It is the first time such a service – providing free access to specialised mental health care – has been offered and has already helped a total of 72 patients in the region, according to Ms Barbara Visser, Project Manager of the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Initiative.

“This is publicly-funded, targeted access for people who are suffering mental health problems, to specialised mental health care, through referrals from their local GPs,” Ms Visser said.
“The team of psychologists at UNE is treating patients with the ‘common colds’ of mental health problems: anxiety and depression; as well as other mental disorders.”
Begun last year, results of the initiative have just been processed and found:
1. Anxiety and depression were the most common problems for which patients were referred to the UNE clinical psychologists by their GPs.
2. More than double the number of women used the service compared with men, with most of the patients ranging in age between 25 and 64 years.
3. A combination of therapies was used to treat the patients, over a six to 12-limit number of sessions. These therapies included behavioural and cognitive, and relaxation strategies.
4. The 17 GPs who registered with the program, and who were specially trained to assess patients whose needs would best be met by a clinical psychologist, unanimously agreed that the service helped patients with their psychological needs.

Ms Visser said that the initiative, a collaboration between UNE’s School of Psychology and the New England Division of General Practice, has been funded for another year by the Federal Department of Health and Ageing. People suffering from stress, grief, depression, anxiety and those with suicidal thoughts had especially been helped.

For more information phone Ms Visser at UNE on 6773 2846, or Margaret Allen at the New England Division of General Practice on 6771 1146, or Lydia Roberts on 6773 2779.

Posted by Lydia Roberts at August 25, 2004 10:24 AM