The Challenge of Cultural Change in Mental Health. How Can We Get Psychiatrists, GPs and Counsellors Speaking the Same Language?
Tracks
Room - Stanley C
| Thursday, November 9, 2023 |
| 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM |
Overview
Dr Zelko Mustac, Dokotela and Geoff Davey, Queensland Injectors Health Network
Speaker
Geoffrey Davey
CEO
QuIHN Ltd
The Challenge of Cultural Change in Mental Health. How Can We Get Psychiatrists, GPs and Counsellors Speaking the Same Language?
Abstract
This presentation will discuss the effectiveness of a collaboration between the Queensland Injectors Health Network (QuIHN) and Dokotela Psychiatrists.
Counsellors at QuIHN are required to treat clients who have co-occurring chronic and severe mental illnesses, which impacts the effectiveness of counselling for substance use disorder.
The purpose of this program was for an addiction psychiatrist to provide consultative services to counsellors to increase their capacity to manage clients with chronic and severe mental illness associated with addiction.
Psychiatrists provided educational case conferencing services to a group of counsellors who worked in a particular region. The counsellors were requested to share cases of clients who were not making progress during their counselling.
Program focus
The program hoped to increase the collaborative care the clients received by educating counsellors on how to engage with general practitioners and nurse practitioners to break down the silos between these two groups. The psychiatrist educated counsellors on how to request and understand discharge summaries and treatment letters, which they could then use to focus their counselling. The program aimed to increase the capacity of counsellors to:
- understand the nature, symptoms and treatment of severe mental illness such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder;
- the purpose of psychiatric medications; and
- possible side effects from medication.
Outcome measures
Queensland University undertook a review of the outcome of the 12-month program.
The review was unable to identify a change in outcomes for clients, however the small numbers limited the ability to detect such improvements.
Most clients and counsellors reported an improvement in well-being and functioning. Counsellors also reported some improvement in knowledge and confidence of working with clients with co-occurring mental illness.
However, serval opportunities were also identified to make the program more effective in future and those results surprised us.
Counsellors at QuIHN are required to treat clients who have co-occurring chronic and severe mental illnesses, which impacts the effectiveness of counselling for substance use disorder.
The purpose of this program was for an addiction psychiatrist to provide consultative services to counsellors to increase their capacity to manage clients with chronic and severe mental illness associated with addiction.
Psychiatrists provided educational case conferencing services to a group of counsellors who worked in a particular region. The counsellors were requested to share cases of clients who were not making progress during their counselling.
Program focus
The program hoped to increase the collaborative care the clients received by educating counsellors on how to engage with general practitioners and nurse practitioners to break down the silos between these two groups. The psychiatrist educated counsellors on how to request and understand discharge summaries and treatment letters, which they could then use to focus their counselling. The program aimed to increase the capacity of counsellors to:
- understand the nature, symptoms and treatment of severe mental illness such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder;
- the purpose of psychiatric medications; and
- possible side effects from medication.
Outcome measures
Queensland University undertook a review of the outcome of the 12-month program.
The review was unable to identify a change in outcomes for clients, however the small numbers limited the ability to detect such improvements.
Most clients and counsellors reported an improvement in well-being and functioning. Counsellors also reported some improvement in knowledge and confidence of working with clients with co-occurring mental illness.
However, serval opportunities were also identified to make the program more effective in future and those results surprised us.
Biography
Geoff Davey is an executive leader with decades of experience working across the community sector. Geoff holds qualifications in Health Science, Public Health, and Business Administration. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of QuIHN. QuIHN is a specialist Alcohol and Other Drug service provider providing a continuum of care across Harm Reduction, Therapeutic, and Clinical services. As CEO, Geoff is responsible for leading the organisation and its workforce of multidisciplinary teams to provide holistic care across Queensland. He is passionate about creating meaningful differences and positive impacts for the health of populations and connecting with purpose through his work.
Dr Zelko Mustac
Psychiatrist and Medical Director
Dokotela
The Challenge of Cultural Change in Mental Health. How Can We Get Psychiatrists, GPs and Counsellors Speaking the Same Language?
Abstract
This presentation will discuss the effectiveness of a collaboration between the Queensland Injectors Health Network (QuIHN) and Dokotela Psychiatrists.
Counsellors at QuIHN are required to treat clients who have co-occurring chronic and severe mental illnesses, which impacts the effectiveness of counselling for substance use disorder.
The purpose of this program was for an addiction psychiatrist to provide consultative services to counsellors to increase their capacity to manage clients with chronic and severe mental illness associated with addiction.
Psychiatrists provided educational case conferencing services to a group of counsellors who worked in a particular region. The counsellors were requested to share cases of clients who were not making progress during their counselling.
Program focus
The program hoped to increase the collaborative care the clients received by educating counsellors on how to engage with general practitioners and nurse practitioners to break down the silos between these two groups. The psychiatrist educated counsellors on how to request and understand discharge summaries and treatment letters, which they could then use to focus their counselling. The program aimed to increase the capacity of counsellors to:
- understand the nature, symptoms and treatment of severe mental illness such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder;
- the purpose of psychiatric medications; and
- possible side effects from medication.
Outcome measures
Queensland University undertook a review of the outcome of the 12-month program.
The review was unable to identify a change in outcomes for clients, however the small numbers limited the ability to detect such improvements.
Most clients and counsellors reported an improvement in well-being and functioning. Counsellors also reported some improvement in knowledge and confidence of working with clients with co-occurring mental illness.
However, serval opportunities were also identified to make the program more effective in future and those results surprised us.
Counsellors at QuIHN are required to treat clients who have co-occurring chronic and severe mental illnesses, which impacts the effectiveness of counselling for substance use disorder.
The purpose of this program was for an addiction psychiatrist to provide consultative services to counsellors to increase their capacity to manage clients with chronic and severe mental illness associated with addiction.
Psychiatrists provided educational case conferencing services to a group of counsellors who worked in a particular region. The counsellors were requested to share cases of clients who were not making progress during their counselling.
Program focus
The program hoped to increase the collaborative care the clients received by educating counsellors on how to engage with general practitioners and nurse practitioners to break down the silos between these two groups. The psychiatrist educated counsellors on how to request and understand discharge summaries and treatment letters, which they could then use to focus their counselling. The program aimed to increase the capacity of counsellors to:
- understand the nature, symptoms and treatment of severe mental illness such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder;
- the purpose of psychiatric medications; and
- possible side effects from medication.
Outcome measures
Queensland University undertook a review of the outcome of the 12-month program.
The review was unable to identify a change in outcomes for clients, however the small numbers limited the ability to detect such improvements.
Most clients and counsellors reported an improvement in well-being and functioning. Counsellors also reported some improvement in knowledge and confidence of working with clients with co-occurring mental illness.
However, serval opportunities were also identified to make the program more effective in future and those results surprised us.
Biography
Dr Zelko Mustac, Consultant and Addiction Psychiatrist, MBBS (Univ Syd) M Addict Behav (Monash) FRANZCP, accredited by the Faculty of Addiction Psychiatry.
He is a Consultant Psychiatrist and the medical director of Dokotela, he has had over 30 years of experience. He has a particular interest in Addiction Psychiatry and assisting young people with co-morbid mental illness and addiction problems. He has had a long career in private practice and forensic settings including state and private psychiatric facilities and is enthusiastic to pursue new treatment modalities.
He is currently medical director of Dokotela, responsible for responsibility for all aspects of clinical oversight and governance for the team of 40+ psychiatrists and psychologists.
