The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is welcoming a new subsidy for GPs to undertake Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training (FPS ST).
The support is timely, as Australia is grappling with a mental health crisis made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple lockdowns. Much of the population is under restrictions, with NSW facing its most severe outbreak yet, and Victoria in its sixth lockdown.
RACGP President Dr Karen Price said GPs with specialised mental health skills were needed more than ever.
"The pandemic is not only having a devastating toll on physical health, it's wreaking havoc on mental health," she said.
"GPs are seeing more and more patients coming to us who are feeling anxious, stressed and want help. Few people are aware GPs provide the overwhelming majority of mental health care in Australia. We are often the first port of call for patients with concerns.
"Even before the pandemic, mental health was a huge concern in Australia. It has rated as the most common presentation GPs deal with in the RACGP's annual Health of the Nation survey for consecutive years now.
"More than ever, it's important that we have affordable and accessible mental health care services available to every community.
"This will help to make a real difference in increasing access to specialised mental health care to the communities that really need it."
The General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) is offering GPs a $600 subsidy after completing Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training. Applications to claim the subsidy open on 1 September 2021.
