General Practice Round Table
Ministerial Advisory Sub-Committee on the Physical Health of People with Serious Mental Illness
Improving the poor physical health status of people with severe mental illness has been identified as an area for early action in Because Mental Health Matters: Victorian Mental Health Reform Strategy 2009-2019, released in March 2009.
Emphasis will be placed on the role specialist mental health services can play in supporting clients to better manage their physical health. This will involve working with specialist mental health and primary health to ensure timely access to preventative and chronic disease management care.
The Victorian Ministerial Advisory Committee on Mental Health (MAC) Subcommittee on the Physical Health of People with Severe Mental Illness has been convened to identify what action is needed to improve the physical health of people with severe mental illness.
The Physical Health MAC Subcommittee will provide the Minister for Mental Health with practical recommendations on how:
The specialist mental health services can contribute to reducing the prevalence of common physical health problems and associated risks (e.g. obesity, diabetes, drug and alcohol misuse, poor oral health and smoking) experienced by people with a severe mental illness.
- Specialist mental health and local primary health services (e.g. diabetes educators, dieticians and general practice) can work more effectively together to proactively address common, preventable physical health problems and improve health outcomes for this cohort.
- Access to established chronic disease management programs for clients with chronic disease and severe mental illness can be improved.
- Targeted health promotion could be used to encourage positive health behaviours and reduce risk factors associated with poor general health and illness in the areas, such as, smoking, exercise, diet and obesity.
To this end, GPs are invited to attend a consultation on these issues on Tuesday 23rd March at General Practice Victoria. The discussion will inform recommendations to Minister Neville later this year.
Reimbursement for GP's time out of practice will be provided.
For printable version and registration forms please click HERE