scholarly journals A Comparison of Self-Referral and Referral via Primary Care Providers, through Two Similar Digital Mental Health Services in Western Australia

2022 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 905
Author(s):  
Lauren G. Staples ◽  
Nick Webb ◽  
Lia Asrianti ◽  
Shane Cross ◽  
Daniel Rock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Treatment Outcomes ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Internet Telephone

Digital mental health services (DMHSs) deliver mental health information, assessment, and treatment, via the internet, telephone, or other digital channels. The current study compares two DMHSs operating in Western Australia (WA)—The Practitioner Online Referral System (PORTS) and MindSpot. Both provide telephone and online psychological services at no cost to patients or referrers. However, PORTS is accessed by patients via referral from health practitioners, and is designed to reach those who are financially, geographically, or otherwise disadvantaged. In contrast, MindSpot services are available to all Australian residents and patients can self-refer. This observational study compares characteristics and treatment outcomes for patients of PORTS and MindSpot in WA. Eligible patients were people who resided in WA and registered with either clinic from January 2019 to December 2020. Results showed that PORTS patients were more likely to be older, male, and unemployed. They were less likely to report a tertiary education and were more likely to live in areas with higher levels of socioeconomic disadvantage. Despite these differences, treatment outcomes were excellent for patients from both clinics. Results provide further evidence for the accessibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of DMHSs regardless of referral pathway or patient characteristics.

The Bridge Program: A Model for Delivering Mental Health Services to Asian Americans through Primary Care

2005 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongtu Chen ◽  
Elizabeth Kramer ◽  
Teddy Chen ◽  
Jianping Chen ◽  
Henry Chung
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Asian Americans ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Bridge Program ◽  
Community Awareness

Compared to all other racial and ethnic groups, Asian Americans have the lowest utilization of mental health services. Contributing factors include extremely low community awareness about mental health, a lack of culturally competent Asian American mental health professionals, and severe stigma associated with mental illness. This manuscript describes an innovative program that bridges the gap between primary care and mental health services. The Bridge Program, cited in the supplement to the Surgeon’s General’s Report on Mental Health: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity as a model for delivery of mental health services through primary care; (2) to improve capacity by enhancing the skills of primary care providers to identify and treat mental disorders commonly seen in primary care; and (3) to raise community awareness by providing health education on mental health and illness. Results are presented and the potential for replication is addressed.

scholarly journals Teaching Family Nurse Practitioner Students to Provide Mental Health Care to Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 10-11
Author(s):  
Victoria Grando ◽  
Roy Grando
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Neurocognitive Disorders ◽  
Mental Condition ◽  
Care Providers

Abstract In recent years, FNPs have been challenged to deliver mental health services in the primary care setting. Over half of mental health services are provided in primary care, and one-quarter of all primary care patients have a mental disorder. Moreover, 20% of older adults have a mental or neurological disorder often not diagnosed. Nationally, it is estimated that 17% of older adults commit suicide, 15% have a mental condition, 11% have dementia, and 5% have a serious mental condition. There is a paucity of adequately prepared primary care providers trained in geropsychiatric treatment. A didactic course was developed to instruct FNP students in the skills needed to provide mental health treatment in primary care. We discuss mental illness in the context of culture to ensure that treatment is congruent with a patient’s unique cultural background and experiences. This shapes the patients’ beliefs and behaviors that influence the way they view their condition and what they perceive as acceptable solutions. We then go into detail about the common mental conditions that older adults exhibit. Through the case study method, students learn to identify the presenting problem, protocols for analyzing the case, which includes making differential diagnoses and a treatment plan including initial medications, non-medical treatments, and referral. Students are introduced to the DMS-5 to learn the criteria for mental health diagnosis with an emphasis on suicide, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorders, substance use disorders, and neurocognitive disorders. We have found that students most often misdiagnose neurocognitive disorders.

Introducing Shared Mental Health Care in Northwestern Ontario: An Analysis of Changing Referral Patterns of Primary Care Providers

2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham Gaylord ◽  
S. Kathleen Bailey ◽  
John M. Haggarty
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Community Mental Health Services ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Referral Patterns

This study describes a shared mental health care (SMHC) model introduced in Northern Ontario and examines how its introduction affected primary care provider (PCP) mental health referral patterns. A chart review examined referrals (N = 4,600) from 5 PCP sites to 5 outpatient community mental health services from January 2001 to December 2005. PCPs with access to SMHC made significantly more mental health referrals (p < 0.001). Two demographically similar PCPs were then compared, one co-located with SMHC. Referrals for depression to non-SMHC mental health services were 1.69 times more likely to be from the PCP not co-located with SMHC (p < 0.001). Findings suggest SMHC increases access to care and decreases demand on existing mental health services.

scholarly journals Predicting Women’s Utilization of Primary Care Mental Health Services in Mexico City

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-88
Author(s):  
Karla Mendoza ◽  
Arianna Ulloa ◽  
Nayelhi Saavedra ◽  
Jorge Galván ◽  
Shoshana Berenzon
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mexico City ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Mental Health Provider ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Primary Care Mental Health

Objective: To analyze factors associated with and predicting Mexican women seeking primary care mental health services (PCMHS) and provide suggestions to increase PCMHS utilization. Method: We administered a questionnaire to (N = 456) female patients in Mexico City primary care clinics. We conducted chi-square analyses of seeking PCMHS and sociodemographic variables, perceptions of and experiences with PCMHS. Our results and literature review guided our logistic regression model. Results: Women referred to a mental health provider (MHP; odds ratio [OR] = 10.81, 95% CI = 3.59-32.51), whose coping mechanisms included talking to a MHP (OR = 5.53, 95% CI = 2.10-14.53), whose primary worry is loneliness (OR = 8.15, 95% CI = 1.20-55.10), and those who follow doctor’s orders; were more likely to seek PCMHS (OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.09-0.92). Conclusions: Primary care providers play a fundamental role in women’s decisions to seek PCMHS. Proper referrals to PCMHS should be encouraged.

Screening for Depression in Primary Care: Can It Become More Efficient?

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn M. Magruder ◽  
Derik E. Yeager
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Depression Screening ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
First Line ◽  
Preventive Mental Health ◽  
Recommended Services

Screening for depression has been so widely advocated that the burden of proof has shifted to skeptics who argue against it. Yet only recently has sufficient evidence accrued to judge dispassionately the advantages and disadvantages of screening. Here we discuss the evidence for specific tools and specific strategies in improving the outcome of depression screening in primary care. In 1978, the Institute of Medicine defined primary care as ‘‘care that is accessible, comprehensive, coordinated, continuous, and accountable.’’ While the definition has evolved over time,2 these fundamental characteristics are still valid today. Included in the primary care mission is to serve as the first line for detection and either treatment or referral of common mental disorders, including depression. The inclusion of first-line mental health services as a component of primary care distinguishes primary care (including outpatient clinics in managed care organizations, community hospitals, Veterans Administration hospitals, teaching institutions, and other medical centers) from care in more specialized clinical settings. The comprehensiveness of primary care and the obligation of its providers for first-line care make it a logical and appropriate venue for mental health screening. Complicating the issue, however, are the time constraints on primary care providers. Although the amount of time spent per patient visit is about 20 minutes in the United States, the recommended services that should be provided in that short period of time are daunting. It is therefore imperative that these recommended services—in particular preventive health services— be provided in the most efficient manner possible. Services that cannot be provided efficiently and fit within the busy, fast-paced world of primary care are at risk of being omitted. This is especially true for preventive mental health services. Screening for depression is such a service; therefore, it is critical that primary care providers make use of the best and most efficient depression screening approaches possible. In this chapter, we will address issues related to screening for depression in the primary care context. We will start by briefly reviewing the epidemiology of depression as related to primary care. Next, we will provide a critical examination of the applicability to depression screening of the World Health Organization’s criteria.

scholarly journals VA Primary Care–Mental Health Integration: Patient Characteristics and Receipt of Mental Health Services, 2008–2010

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (11) ◽  
pp. 1137-1141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicki Johnson-Lawrence ◽  
Kara Zivin ◽  
Benjamin R. Szymanski ◽  
Paul N. Pfeiffer ◽  
John F. McCarthy
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Primary Care Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Integration
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