National Primary Mental Health Care

More than one in ten of all general practitioner consultations in Australia are for mental health related problems. Overall general practice delivers around 10 million mental health consultations per year. 

Data from the National Profile of Mental Health and Well-being study indicates that approximately 20% of the Australian population will meet the criteria for a mental health problem or disorder (ABS, 1997). Yet, only 38% of these people sought professional help. Of those who do seek professional help, 75% do so from their GP.

Click on the program area below to find out more:

National Primary Mental Health Care Network
The function of the Primary Mental Health Care Network is to provide a platform and support mechanism for the implementation of Australian Government primary mental health care programs through Divisions of General Practice.

Better access
This initiative aims to increase community access to general practitioners, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and other allied mental health professionals for mental health care.

Better outcomes
Through the Better Outcomes in Mental Health care initiative the bariers to the delivery of quality mental health care in general practice have begun to be addressed in a structured and systematic way.

The Can Do Initiative:  Managing Mental Health and Substance Use in General Practice
The Can Do Initiative:  Managing Mental Health and Substance Use in General Practice is a national initiative, funded through the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing as part of the National Comorbidity Initiative.

Your Mental Health & Alcohol: Managing the Mix
This project is a government-community-general practice collaboration involving the Alcohol Education & Rehabilitation Foundation (AERF), the Mental Health Council of Australia, the Departments of Health & Ageing and Veteran's Affairs and the AGPN. The project is being coordinated by AGPN.

MindMatters Plus General Practice Initiative
This initiative sought to increase the capacity of demonstration schools, together with their local community, to provide support for students with high mental health needs.

AGPN acknowledges the financial support of the Australian Government Department of Health & Ageing