WORKSHOP AIMS TO MAKE PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES MORE ACCESSIBLE An upcoming workshop in Warrnambool will look at ways to make effective and responsive psychological treatment services more easily accessible in regional and remote communities. Professor Tim Carey is hosting the workshop for the local branch of the Australian Psychological Society in Warrnambool on Wednesday, February 5. The mental health academic who is Deputy Director and Head of Research at the Centre for Remote Health in Alice Springs operates a psychology clinic as part of the Central Australian Mental Health Service. He said that access to evidence-based mental health treatment is compromised in rural areas. “It is very difficult to get psychological and social treatment programs up and running in rural areas, even though they can be very effective, and recruiting and retaining appropriate staff is a factor in this,” he said. Professor Carey will also attend the annual writers retreat workshops with the Greater Green Triangle University Department of Rural Health while in Warrnambool. The annual writing retreat brings together health researchers from around Australia and internationally to discuss research opportunities and analyse and share progress of existing projects. He said that psychiatric care was important but only one part of dealing with mental health issues comprehensively, and it was often the most expensive form of treatment. Professor Carey said he was concerned that funding cuts are impacting on regional services. For example, three psychiatrists who regularly visit Dubbo in NSW will stop their trips following a decision by the local health district to stop paying for their travel. He was also concerned that a new magnetic brain stimulation therapy is being suggested as a first-line option for Australians with depression, even though, despite its effectiveness, a full treatment could cost $10,000. The cost alone would compromise accessibility for people in rural and remote areas. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists is pushing for Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation therapy to be more widely used. However, Professor Carey said there were other cost-effective and efficient ways to help people such as cognitive behaviour therapy and social programs to improve engagement that should be considered before more expensive options are explored. “Treatment can proceed efficiently and effectively when clients, rather than clinicians make decisions about how much treatment is provided and the challenge for clinicians is to be able to provide treatment flexibly and responsively within the time-frame of the client,” he added. While he said there was still stigma attached to mental health problems, the community needed to realise that it impacts not only on sufferers but their families and workplace. The GGT UDRH is a partnership between Flinders University and Deakin University. The Warrnambool psychological society workshop will be at South West Healthcare and interested people can contact Kelli Garrison ([email protected]) for more information. Courtesy Rick Bayne Media Masters Vic
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 02:04:36 +0000