Managing the Mix Project Summaries

Your Mental Health and Alcohol: Managing the Mix
Alcohol and Mental Health Comorbidity in Primary Care Project

The Managing the Mix projects have been funded principally by the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation, with additional contributions from the Australian Government Departments of Health and Ageing (Rural Health and Palliative Care and Drug Strategy Branches) and Veterans' Affairs. Overall project management is being undertaken by the Australian Divisions of General Practice. The project includes GP education, resource development and systems integration components to enhance the delivery of services for people with comorbid alcohol misuse and high prevalence mental health problems. The national evaluation is being undertaken by the Primary Mental Health Care Australian Resource Centre at Flinders University, with the Mental Health Council of Australia responsible for the development of new consumer and carer resources. The following summaries provide an outline of the work being conducted by Divisions of General Practice in partnership with local agencies to improve the management of patients with these co-existing conditions.

Project Summaries

Top End Division of General Practice

Project Name: Co-morbidity Project
State/Territory: Northern Territory
Principal Contact: Ms Sandy McConachy
Title: Mental Health Program Manager
Principal contact's E-mail and telephone: Ph. 08 8982100 E-mail: smcconachy@tedgp.asn.au
Other contacts: Ms Gemma Williams, TEDGP E-mail: gwilliams@tedgp.asn.au

Project activities

This project is targeted to support General Practitioners living in or working with remote indigenous communities in the Top End of the Northern Territory.

The project will facilitate and provide:

Education to improve the skills and knowledge of the remote general practice sector to identify and treat comorbid alcohol misuse and mental health problems;
Establish a peer support group network to aid GP workforce retention;
Create and distribute a resource folder to each clinic, containing information and brief intervention models to inform the ever-changing rotation of GPs;
A resource folder to inform on referral pathways and systems of shared care;
Culturally sensitive information provided to waiting rooms, carers and general population.

NSW Central Coast Division of General Practice

Project name: Comorbidity in Primary Care (CPC) Demonstration Project
State/Territory: New South Wales
Principal contact: Anthony Critchley
Title Project Manager: North Wyong Integrated Primary Health Care Research and Academic Unit
Principal contact's E-mail and telephone: E-mail: anthony@ccdgp.com.au Ph. 02 43 65 2294
Other contacts: Paul Hussein, Operations Manager, CCDGP, E-mail: paul@ccdgp.com.au Ph. 02 43 65 2294

Project activities

This project will provide local GPs with opportunities to observe, train and practice new models of effective health care delivery (including the use of EPC items), demonstrate the positive effect of integrating/coordinating services and seek ongoing advice and support in their existing practices. In addition, the project will increase the health community's awareness of comorbidity through education workshops, identification of support services and pathway development.

Through the project, the North Wyong Integrated Primary Health Care Research and Academic Unit can ensure a focus on comorbidity by:

Raising awareness of the prevalence and burden of disease associated with alcohol misuse and dependence and common co-morbidities such as depression and anxiety in the general practice community;
Disseminating relevant resources;
Improving the knowledge, skills and capacity of the general practice sector in the prevention and management of high prevalence alcohol and mental health co-morbidities in primary care;
Building GP and practice staff competence in the prevention, management and referral of alcohol and mental health co-morbidity
Promoting, and if appropriate, enhancing and developing a range of resources and tools for prevention and treatment in general practice and related settings;
Supporting GPs and Divisions to disseminate quality resources to consumers and carers;
Building and/or improving local coordinated, sustainable infrastructure and systems for shared care.

Adelaide Northern Division of General Practice

Project Name: Northern Wellbeing Co-Link
State/Territory: South Australia
Principal contact: Barbara Magin
Title: Mental Health Programs Manager
Principal contact's E-mail and telephone E-mail: bmagin@andgp.org.au Ph. 08 8252 9444 Mob.Ph. 0412728307

Project activities

The project will provide a model of practice capacity building where whole practices are upskilled in their knowledge and capacity to provide health care to their patients who have alcohol and mental health comorbidity. The project will build on existing partnerships and develop relationships that will benefit the community as a whole by establishing pathways of care for patients and the provision of treatment of alcohol and mental health comorbidity.

The project will provide:

A model of community capacity building suitable for use in communities where disadvantage is high and compounded by misuse of alcohol and/or mental health problems;
Established and sustainable networks of care and referral pathways to health and related support services for people at risk of alcohol misuse and mental illness;
A strengthened community and primary care workforce, skilled and resourced to work to reduce disadvantage and to minimise the effects of alcohol use among people in the community;
Treatment for people with alcohol misuse comorbid with mental health problems;
Training and education to the primary care workforce in managing their patients who have alcohol and mental illness comorbidity.

Perth Central Coastal and Osborne Divisions of General Practice

Project name: Alcohol and Mental Health Comorbidity Project
Principal Divisions: Perth Central Coastal (PCCDGP) and Osborne (ODGP) Divisions of General Practice
Other Divisions involved: Mid West Division of General Practice (MWDGP)
State/Territory: Western Australia
Principal contact: Kate van Koesveld
Title: Mental Health Program Officer (PCCDGP)
Principal contact's E-mail and telephone E-mail: mentalhealth@pccdgp.com.au Ph. 08 9389 9144
Other Contacts: Ann Bates (Mental Health Program Manager at ODGP) E-mail: annb@odgp.com.au Ph. 08 9208 9511
Cheryl Grigsby (Program Coordinator at MWDGP) E-mail: program1@midwestdgp.com.au Ph. 08 9208 9511 or 08 9964 2812

Project activities

The project aims to raise awareness and capacity of the general practice community and local specialist services to prevent and manage high prevalence alcohol and mental health co-morbidities in primary care. Along with the roll-out of the national training package and resources, this group of Divisions aims to improve shared care arrangements and referral pathways between general practitioners and local specialist services. A central focus of this project is building on existing agreements, referral pathways and collaborations, allowing the divisions to incorporate project goals and objectives into ongoing divisional activities. Key project objectives such as peer support groups and utilisation of the existing Mental Health Liaison Officer role will facilitate ongoing links between alcohol and mental health service staff and general practice.

Central Sydney Division of General Practice Canterbury Division of General Practice and Partners

Project name: Primary Care Partnerships for Co-morbidity
A collaborative project between: Central Sydney Division of General Practice (CSDGP), Canterbury Division of General Practice (CDGP) and Central Sydney Area Health Service (CSAHS) Mental Health and Drug Health services
Principal Division: Central Sydney Division of General Practice
Other Divisions involved: Canterbury Division of General Practice
State/Territory: New South Wales
Principal contact: Rowena Burnside
Title: Program Manager
Principal contact's E-mail and telephone: E-mail: rburnside@csdgp.com.au Ph. 02 9799 0933
Other contact: Kate Reakes, Mental Health Program Officer, Canterbury Division of General Practice
E-mail: katereakes@candivgp.asn.au Ph. 02 9787 9033

Project activities

The objectives of this project are to:

Enhance early and accurate identification of patients who have a co-morbid presentation of alcohol and mental health problems through the skilled use of effective screening tools and brief interventions in the primary care setting. This will be achieved by adopting a holistic approach to general practice: education and upskilling in the effective use of screening tools and brief interventions will be made available to GPs and clinical practice staff (general practice nurses), and systems issues to improve patient care will be addressed with non clinical practice staff ;
Audit existing referral pathways to identify service gaps. Cross-sector collaboration with Area Mental Health and Drug Health Services will be used to enhance formal structures and networks to develop improved frameworks for service delivery.

Project outcomes:

GPs and their clinical and non clinical staff in the Central Sydney and Canterbury Divisions will be upskilled to competently provide the full diagnostic and management (i.e.treatment and referral) bundle to address co-morbid (alcohol and mental health) presentations in general practice;
Enhanced shared care arrangements between GPs and specialist service providers for the management of chronic co-morbid conditions;
The pre-existing relationship and current arrangements between the Divisions and Area Mental Health and Drug Health Services will be further enhanced;
Service delivery will be further improved;
All key stakeholders will be identified and networks established with these individuals/groups;
Existing relationships with key stakeholders will be enhanced (including youth health, Aboriginal health and the Dept of Veterans' Affairs).

Mallee Division of General Practice

Project name: All In = All Win
State/Territory: Victoria
Principal contact: Teresa O'Brien
Title: Program Services
Principal contact's E-mail and telephone E-mail: tobrien@malleedgp.com.au Ph. 03 50330968
Other contacts Bob Mutton, EO. E-mail: bmutton@malleedgp.com.au Ph. 03 50238633

Project activities

The project aims to:

Raise community awareness of problems associated with alcohol misuse and issues confronting youth through the development of resources and information;
Improve the skills and knowledge of GPs and other health workers in treating comorbid alcohol misuse and mental health problems;
Enhance current programs and build sustainable links between general practice and other primary care providers;
Provide affordable access to such services for youth.

Illawarra Division of General Practice and Shoalhaven Division of General Practice

Project name: Youth SMART - Services for Mental health and Alcohol Referrral and Treatment
Principal Division: Illawarra Division of General Practice
Other Divisions involved: Shoalhaven Division of General Practice
State/Territory NSW
Principal contact: Kellie Marshall
Title: Mental Health Program Officer
Principal contact's E-mail and telephone E-mail: kmarshall@idgp.org.au Ph. 02 42267052

Project activities

The project intends to deliver the following outcomes:
1. Environmental Scan completed;
2. Publicity campaign to raise awareness of co-morbidity in young people is delivered to the community, young people, parents and service providers through television, radio, newsletter articles and training activities;
3. GPs in School manual revised to include material on mental health co-morbidity in young people;
4. Creating Conversations program further developed in partnership with the Illawarra Drug and Alcohol Service and presented to parents to assist them in the identification of mental health co-morbidity in young people with whom they are associated;
5. Lesson plan for education activities using the Dual Diagnosis CD Training Resource developed;
6. Education and training on the identification of young people with a mental health comorbidity is delivered to GPs, parents and other youth health service providers (School Counsellors, Lifeline) utilising the CD Dual Diagnosis Training Resource;
7. Service delivery pathways for young people with mental health co-morbidity are mapped;
8. Carer and service referral pathways for young people with mental health co-morbidity are networked;
9. Joint education and training is delivered to a range of allied health service providers, to develop a multi-disciplinary culture for the care of young people with mental health co-morbidity;
10. Family counselling interventions are delivered through the Salvation Army.

Bendigo and District Division of General Practice and Murray Plains Division of General Practice

Project name: Wheels Within Wheels
Principal Division: Bendigo and District Division
Other Divisions involved: Murray Plains Division
State/Territory: Victoria and New South Wales Cross Border
Principal contact: Paul Lumb
Title: AOD/Mental Health Program Manager
Principal contact's E-mail and telephone E-mail: plumb@bgodivgp.org.au Ph. 03 5441 7806 or 0419 320 770
Other contacts: Francis McCormick, Murray Plains E-mail: fmccormick@mpdgp.com.au Ph. 03 5456 4086

Project activities

The project aims to raise GP awareness of the issues of alcohol and mental health comorbidity and deliver training and education through the divisions' existing training models. The project will also engage specific psychosocial support for patients/families and assist in establishing relevant linkages to specialised services. This will involve improving communication, resources and access through collaboration across the alcohol and mental health service sector. The application of the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care model will help deliver improved outcomes for patients and their families.

Yorke Peninsula Division of General Practice and Partners

Project name: Yorke Peninsula, Mid North and Barossa Division of Rural Medicine National Alcohol and Mental Health Co-morbidity Project
Principal Division: Yorke Peninsula Division of General Practice
Other Divisions involved: Mid North Division of Rural Medicine Barossa Division of General Practice
State/Territory: South Australia
Principal contact: Kate Butler
Title: Project Officer
Principal contact's E-mail and telephone: E-mail: kate.butler@yp-connect.net Ph. 08 8821 4066
Other contacts: Kim Hosking, Executive Officer, Mid North Division of Rural Medicine E-mail: khosking@cl.mndgp.org.au Ph. 08 8842 1077
Kiara Garrard, Project Officer, Barossa Division of General Practice E-mail: kgarrard@bdgp.net Ph. 08 8564 3266

Project activities

The project aims to address issues associated with alcohol misuse and mental health co-morbidities in the local region by:

Increasing community awareness of the implications of alcohol and mental health co-morbidities;
Improving the capacity of GPs and their Practices in the prevention, management and referral of patients presenting with alcohol and mental health co-morbidities via training, information and quality resource provision;
Establishing and implementing protocols and a local system of referral and shared care.

Westgate Division of General Practice and Western Melbourne Division of General Practice

Project name: Action and Cooperation In Alcohol and Comorbidity for General Practice - (ACCA GP)
Principal Divisions: Westgate Division of General Practice and Western Melbourne Division of General Practice
State/Territory: Victoria
Principal contact: Angela Caruso
Title: Program Coordinator
Principal contact's email and telephone: E-mail: acaruso@westerngp.com.au Ph. 03 9689 4566
Other contacts: Michael Williams, Westgate DGP E-mail: michael.williams@westgategp.com Ph. 03 9399 4862

Project activities

The project aims to:

Expedite and facilitate referral processes and care pathways for people experiencing comorbid alcohol misuse and mental health problems;
Provide GPs with training and skills development in co-morbidity issues;
Promote greater awareness of comorbidity issues among consumers, carers and the community.

To achieve these aims, the project will:

Develop referral pathways between General Practice and local mental health and alcohol and drug services;
Develop and implement a systemic and integrated shared care program between General Practice and alcohol and mental health services;
Develop and distribute consumer material on co-morbidity issues;
Prepare media articles to increase awareness on co-morbidity issues in the general community;
Develop and promote schools outreach program.

Townsville Division of General Practice

Project Name: Townsville Alcohol and Mental Health Co-morbidity Project
State/Territory: Queensland
Principal contact: TBA
Title: Mental Health Program Officer
Principal contact's E-mail and telephone: E-mail: TBA Ph. 07 4258 915 ext 216

Project activities

The intended outcomes of the project include:

The development of shared care referral pathways with relevant services, with particular emphasis on referral and discharge information exchange using IM/IT communications where possible;
The development of a directory listing local services that treat clients with alcohol and mental health co-morbidity;
Collection of baseline data via a project pre implementation survey. Service providers to be targeted include general practitioners, practice staff, allied health professionals, staff working in youth services, and school support staff. The survey will establish existing behaviour, attitudes, skills and knowledge on the prevention and management of alcohol misuse and high prevalence mental health co-morbidities within the local primary care sector. An audit of referrals made by general practitioners and community organisations to ATODS and IMHS for patients with these comorbidities will also be completed;
The delivery of the DVA-developed national skills based training program in either workshop or sessional format;
The development of localised training in conjunction with ATODS, IMHS and other relevant service providers to provide information about localised referral pathways and local services;
The delivery of localised training as mentioned above in both face-to-face and electronic formats to GPs, practice staff, allied health professionals and other community organisations;
The establishment of practice-based peer support groups that conform to RACGP small group learning requirements involving input from health professionals from both ATODS and IMHS that seek to provide whole-of-practice support to GPs and practice staff dealing with alcohol and mental health co-morbidity;
The dissemination of tools and resources to GPs and practices;
The implementation of routine alcohol screening practices within the primary care setting;
The development of formal partnerships with services through Service Agreements /Memorandums of Understanding.

Pilbara Division of General Practice

Project Name: Star Communities
State/Territory: WA
Principal contact: Emma Peters
Title: General Practice Programs Officer
Principal contact's: E-mail epeters@pdgp.com.au Ph. 08 9185 6662

Project activities

The Star Communities Project aims to increase knowledge, skills and appropriate referrals among service providers in the treatment of patients with comorbid alcohol and mental health problems. The project also aims to increase community awareness of these issues in the remote Pilbara towns of Karratha and Newman.
Some of the activities include:

Upskilling for service providers (including alcohol and mental health professionals)
GPs from Karratha and Newman travelling to Perth for a Clinical Attachment
Regular videoconference meetings for service providers and a Psychiatrist
Health promotion activities at local community events (such as the "Pit Stop" program)
Promotion of local and distant alcohol and mental health services
Media promotion of project.

NSW Outback Division of General Practice

Project name: Building GP Capacity in Outback NSW
State/Territory NSW
Principal contact John Clarke
Title: CEO
Principal contact's email and telephone E-mail outbackdivision@bigpond.com Ph. 02 6836 4028

Project activities

This project aims to raise awareness among GPs and practice staff of comorbid alcohol misuse and anxiety and depression.

The Project will develop /and or promote appropriate resources which will enhance the capacity of GPs to:
1. Identify those at risk for alcohol misuse
2. Identify those with significant co-morbidities within this group
3. Provide brief effective interventions aimed at the appropriate management of alcohol and co-morbidities of anxiety and depression in a general practice setting
4. Appropriately refer to available expertise in communities in the division.

Anticipated outcomes:

Raised awareness of comorbidity among GPs and practice staff
A Questionnaire for new and existing patients is adopted, which includes prompts to alert GPs to possible alcohol misuse
Implementation of the DASS (Depression, Anxiety and Social Stress scale) to enhance identification of patients with co-morbidities of anxiety and depression in particular
Training in brief intervention strategies for GPs and practice staff
Identification of local services and dissemination of information to GPs.

Capricornia Division of General Practice

Project Name: Mental Health and Alcohol Partnership project
State/Territory: QLD
Principal contact: Julie Thomson
Title: CEO
Principal contact's E-mail and telephone E-mail: jthomson@capdivgp.cqdoc.com Ph. 07 4927 3182

Project activities

The project's objectives and means to achieving them are outlined as follows:

Raise awareness of the prevalence and burden of disease associated with alcohol misuse and common mental health co-morbidities and the role of GPs in managing these conditions, by:

1. Disseminating information and self help resources via local general practices, Mental Health Units (MHU), Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Services (ATODS) and agencies associated with the Mental Health Promotions Committee;
2. Financially supporting the publishing of the Mental Health Promotions Committee newsletter (three editions per year);
3. Implementing alcohol misuse and co-morbiditiy related activities during Mental Health Week, including a community forum and media releases;
4. Conducting a secondary school based education program, which will focus on educating teenagers on safe alcohol consumption, mental health issues, support services available and the value of having your own GP;
5.Improve the knowledge, skills, confidence and capacity of local GPs in the prevention, management and referral of people with alcohol and mental health co-morbidities.

This will be achieved by:

1. Delivering and evaluating the National Skills Based Training for GPs;
2. Developing and delivering additional education and skill based training reflective of local needs, in collaboration with ATODS and the MHU. This local professional development program will include: education regarding the roles of key local stakeholders and their services and preferred referral pathways; motivational counselling and evidence based brief interventions and other topics as identified by local GPs and health providers;
3. Establishing small groups (peer support) which will be GP lead and will focus on case based discussions.
4. Establish support services for GPs, and develop and promote resources/tools for the prevention and treatment of comorbidity in general practice through:
a) Establishing a phone support service for GPs seeking management advice when treating patients with co-morbidities
b) Establishing a resource/tool for GPs that will provide information on identifying patients who may have a mental health and alcohol co-morbidity; information regarding evidenced based brief intervention and motivational counselling; identification of local services available and referral pathways.

The project will also initiate a Co-morbidity Task Force to build and improve local coordinated sustainable infrastructure and systems for shared care of people with mental health and alcohol comorbidities.

Dandenong District, Greater South Eastern, Monash and Central Bayside Divisions of General Practice

Project Name Young people, alcohol & mental health - getting it together
Principal Division: Dandenong District DGP
Other Divisions involved: Greater South Eastern DGP, Monash DGP,Central Bayside DGP
State/Territory: Victoria
Principal contact: Graeme Fletcher
Title: Program Coordinator
Principal contact's E-mail and telephone E-mail g.fletcher@dddgp.com.au Ph. 03 9706 7311
Other contacts; Chris Edmonds, Program Officer, GSEDGP: E-mail cedmonds@gsedgp.com.au Ph. 03 9569 5077
Reitai Minogue, Program Coordinator, CBDGP E-mail reitai.minogue@centralbayside.com.au Ph. 03 9521 6755
Michelle Speak, Program Officer, MDGP E-mail mspeak@rubix.net.au Ph. 03 9570 3727

Project activities

Principal activities include:

A core group of interested GPs will undertake skills-based training in the management and prevention of alcohol and mental health comorbidity;
Information and resources will be disseminated to GPs via Divisions;
Trained GPs will conduct information sessions with identified community-based groups, including but not limited to high-risk adolescent groups (in consultation with Community Health Services and Local Government youth services), specific CALD groups (to be identified in consultation with South East Regions Migrant Resource Centre), and indigenous groups (in consultation with Bunurong Aboriginal Health Service)
The existing referral guide will be revised and updated;
Common resources will be utilised by GPs working with targeted groups, and linkages with key service providers/stakeholders established to promote consistent and common processes for managing and referring young people with comorbid alcohol and mental health conditions;
Recommendation of the previous dual diagnosis project, 'Dual Diagnosis' GPs: the important but missing link in the system', will be implemented. This will include a specific focus on professional development activities and service collaboration.

Eastern Ranges GP Association, Knox, Whitehorse, and Inner Eastern Melbourne Divisions of General Practice

Project Name: National Alcohol and Mental Health Comorbidity Project
Principal Division: Eastern Ranges GP Association
Other Divisions: involved Knox DGP, Whitehorse DGP, Inner Eastern Melbourne DGP
State/Territory: Victoria
Principal contact: Kristin Michaels
Title Manager: GP Services
Principal contact's E-mail and telephone: E-mail Kristin.Michaels@ergpa.com.au Ph. 03 9739 6751

Project activities

The main project aim is to develop a risk-reduction strategy for clients presenting with alcohol and mental health co-morbidity at General Practices across the Eastern Region Divisions of Inner Eastern Melbourne, Whitehorse, Knox and Eastern Ranges, through three key areas of client identification, client management and sustainability of mental health provision at the Primary Care level, outlined below.

Intended outcomes:

1. Client identification: Increased GP knowledge of developmental patterns, changed negative stereotypical attitudes, increased GP and youth rapport and improved understanding of early intervention to reduce risk of patient alcohol self-medication/self-harm practices;
2. Client management: Enhanced GP interviewing skills for identification of dual diagnosis and use of motivation interviewing to reduce alcohol misuse. Improved 'best practice approach' for 'at risk' patients, education, increased use of CBT and anti-crave medications such as Naltrexone, and better coordinated referral system between GPs, mental health and drug and alcohol services;
3. Sustainability: Increased opportunities for risk reduction of dual diagnosis through Continuing Professional Development and practice contact. Increased recruitment and use of Better Outcomes in Mental Health registered GPs. Established communication and referral system for GPs, patients and family members. Greater opportunities for GP mentoring and enhanced local agency, council, community and research collaboration.

Deliverables and products will include:

1. User-friendly information dissemination through GP fax outs, Division Newsletter articles, Website links, Practice Manuals and Client Fact Sheets, drawn from existing mental health organization materials, websites and research reports;
2. Train the Trainer Project Package provided with additional material, tools and training expertise from local specialists and service providers in the alcohol, mental health, communication, interview and relationship building fields;
3. Appointment of 4 Division GP Mentors to provide support to other GP Members;
4. Expansion of BOMH CPDs and GP up-skilling operating in all four Eastern Region Divisions;
5. Capacity-building through training and guideline development utilising existing agency, council, school and university networks and resources.

Eastern Goldfields Medical Division of General Practice

Project Name: Comorbid Alcohol & Mental Health Project
State/Territory: WA
Principal contact: Mrs Vivienne Duggin
Title: CEO
Principal contact's E-mail and telephone: E-mail vduggin@egmdgp.com.au Ph. 08 9021 6610

Project activities

The broad purpose of this project is to provide education regarding alcohol misuse and co-morbid mental health problems to the GPs of this region, and equip them with the resources and skills necessary to treat clients presenting with these comorbid conditions. The project also aims to provide early intervention to clients presenting with high-risk behaviour;
The project aims to enhance referral pathways and communication between health care providers to improve the treatment of people with these comorbid conditions;
Key relationships with expert education providers will be cultivated to facilitate ongoing communication links and participation in annual education programs. The development of a stronger multidisciplinary culture between health care agencies and GPs will be measured by the initiation of, and participation in, case conferences and interactive multidisciplinary groups.

GP North

Project Name: Your Mental Health & Alcohol: Managing the Mix
State/Territory: Tasmania
Principal contact: Michelle Westerink
Title: Program Officer
Principal contact's E-mail and telephone E-mail michellew@gpnorth.com.au Ph. (03) 6331 9296

Project activities

The principal objectives and tasks of the project are to:

1. Raise awareness amongst GPs, alcohol and drug services (A&Ds) and mental health service (MHS) staff about comorbid alcohol and mental health problems and best practice to address these conditions;
2. Encourage meaningful collaboration between GPs, the A&DS and MHS to treat co-morbidity;
3. Develop protocols and tools for a shared care trial involving GPs and other services;
4. Conduct a shared care trial to assist patients with co-morbidity issues;
5. Evaluate the trial and modify the protocols to reflect the results of the trial;
6. Release a protocol and relevant tools to all GPs in Northern Tasmania and provide education and training to assist GPs in managing co-morbidity.

The other Divisions of General Practice in Tasmania have indicated their support for this project and expressed interest in collaborating with GP North in order that the co-morbidity protocol may eventually be released to all GPs in Tasmania.

Canning Division of General Practice

Project Name: Comorbidity Collaborative
State/Territory: Western Australia
Principal contact: Wendy Rose
Title Manager: Policy & Population Health
Principal contact's E-mail and telephone E-mail: Wendy.rose@canningdivision.com.au Ph. 08 9458 0519
Other contacts Carolyn Lawrence: CEO E-mail: c.lawrence@canningdivision.com.au Ph. 08 9458 0505

Project activities

The primary objectives of the project are to:

Improve the treatment skills and knowledge of co-morbidity issues within the general practice setting;
Facilitate the set-up of multidisciplinary practice teams to support clients with co-occurring mental health and alcohol related issues;
Build a local, co-ordinated, sustainable infrastructure and system for shared care for the general practice community.

The project activities include the coordination of education and training for GPs, practice staff and allied health professionals, the development of effective referral pathways and shared care protocols with mental health and alcohol services and the development of a database of local services and resources that is linked to the Commonwealth Carelink Centre, based at the Division and accessible to the local community.