Mental health psychosocial support service needs from the National Mental Health Service Planning Framework (NMHSPF)

The National Psychosocial Support measure was introduced by the Australian Government to provide psychosocial support services to those who do not qualify for services through the National Disability Insurance Scheme or other programs. Primary Mental Health Networks (PHNs) will be implementing the measure via purpose specific funding to commission new services. There is limited information available to help guide planning and commissioning of these services. This report presents important data from the National Mental Health Service Planning Framework that can be used as the basis for collaborative planning between the Western New South Wales PHN and their respective Local Health Networks to avoid service duplication and ensure all necessary services are available within the region

National Mental Health Service Planning Framework (NMHSPF) 2017–2018 Training Program Final Report – June 2018

AbstractThe National Mental Health Service Planning Framework (NMHSPF) is an evidence-based framework that provides national average benchmarks for optimal service delivery across the full spectrum of mental health services in Australia. The NMHSPF is a sophisticated model, successful application requires an understanding of its structure, underlying assumptions and limitations. The Australian Government Department of Health commissioned The University of Queensland to deliver the NMHSPF training program to State and Territory, Primary Health Network and Local Hospital Network. The training consists of 3 stages and aims to progressively build skills and knowledge. This final report provides a summary of the training and associated activities delivered from 1 January to 30 June 2018

Identifying characteristics and practices of multidisciplinary team reviews for patients with severe mental illness: a systematic review

Multidisciplinary teams in mental health receive limited guidance, leading to inconsistent practices. We undertook a systematic review of the characteristics and practices of multidisciplinary team reviews for patients with severe mental illness or in relevant mental health service settings.Sources published since 2000 were located via academic database and web searches. Results were synthesised narratively.A total of 14 sources were analysed. Important characteristics and practices identified included routine monitoring and evaluation, good communication, equality between team members, and clear documentation practices. Success factors included defined leadership and clear team goals. Four sources described considerations for patients with complex clinical needs, including allocating sufficient time for discussion, maintaining connections with community providers, and ensuring culturally sensitive practices.No single best practice model was found, due to variations in team caseload, casemix, and resourcing levels. However, key ingredients for success were proposed. Sources were mostly descriptive; there remains a lack of evidence-based guidance regarding multidisciplinary team review characteristics and practices