Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) With HealthSpeak’s broader audience, it’s timely to explain ATAPS and the various mental health services offered under ATAPS by North Coast Medicare Local’s four branches.
Coffs Harbour, Nambucca, Urunga and Bowraville. Psychiatrist Peter O’Brien works at Galanbilla Aboriginal Medical Service and also sees patients at a Grafton clinic,assisted by mental health nurse Scott Hanson.
What is ATAPS?
ATAPS is a pathway which enables GPs across the NCML region to refer disadvantaged or hard to reach patients to mental health professionals for focussed psychological strategies. ATAPS practitioners include psychologists, social workers, mental health nurses and occupational therapists.
Access to ATAPS
Eligible patients come under two groups. Tier One: General ATAPS referral Individuals for whom Medicare-based services are not affordable or appropriate ‘Hard to reach’ groups including youth, Indigenous Australians, people from culturally diverse backgrounds Tier Two: Target groups for whom funding is more flexible Women with perinatal depression Children 12 years and under Individuals who have attempted suicide or self harm or are at high risk Individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
What services can be provided?
In Tier One, treatment may include a range of therapies and personal skills development. Treatment will generally be determined in response to diagnosis and preparation of a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan by the GP with subsequent assessment by the allied health professional. In Tier Two, delivery options include CBT, behavioural therapy, parent training in behaviour management, liaison with schools, liaising with local NGOs 8
ATAPS enables GPs to refer disadvantaged patients to mental health professionals for timely care.
to support homeless individuals.
Northern Rivers
NCML runs the Tarmons House Mental Health Service in Lismore through a combination of funding sources including ATAPS. Clinicians – psychologists and social workers - also provide outreach services at Casino and Ballina. Tarmons House Mental Health Service provides shortterm psychological intervention and accepts referrals from GPs practising in the Northern Rivers region for clients with a Mental Health Treatment Plan. Treatment offered includes face to face psychological therapy, telephone Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, help for new mums with perinatal depression and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Services. Recently, Tarmons instituted an Indigenous Suicide Prevention Service which is open to people at moderate risk of suicide and/ or self-harm. Criteria for entry to the service include expression of suicidal intent to GP or presentation to a GP after self-harm. If assessment indicates the patient is at high risk of suicide then they are referred to the Acute Care Team and the outcome reported to the GP. At the end of the intervention, recommendations will be made to either manage the patient within primary care practice or refer them for further treatment of their issues. For more information, contact
Tarmons’ Practice Manager Vickie Williams on 6621 7319.
Tweed Valley
GP referrals are made through Tarmons House in Lismore. Patients are then directed to clinicians in the Tweed area. A Suicide Prevention Service is being run in conjunction with the Northern NSW Local Health District. For more information, phone 6621 7319.
Mid North Coast
Tier one: Psychologists employed by NCML work out of Grafton,
Tier two: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health service providers employed by NCML work out of Galanbilla Aboriginal Medical Service in Coffs Harbour and perinatal depression treatment is offered at Coffs Harbour and Grafton. Child mental health services are currently being put in place and will soon be available at Grafton, Coffs Harbour and Bellingen. For more information, contact Amy Crowe on 6651 5774.
Hastings Macleay
Psychologist Sue Baugham is employed by NCML through ATAPS funding and there are an additional three psychologists providing sessional services through ATAPS Tier one in this region. Ruth Nolan, creative arts therapist, provides Tier 2 trauma, grief, and loss group sessions to Aboriginal women in the Macleay Valley. For more information phone 6583 3600.
Briefs
Kids and Pets
It seems worrying about dog and cat licks and germs is a thing of the past with new evidence on the effects. A Finnish study has found that dog and cat contacts may have a protective effect on respiratory tract infections during the first year of life and possibly lead to better resistance to respiratory illnesses during childhood. In this birth cohort study 397 children were followed up from pregnancy onward and information gathered about frequency of respiratory symptoms and dog and cat contacts during the first year
of life reported using diaries and a questionnaire. In multivariate analysis, children with dogs at home were healthier – fewer respiratory tract symptoms or infections – than those with no dog or cat contacts. Additionally, children with dog contacts had less frequent otitis media and tended to need fewer courses of antibiotics. (Paediatrics, published online July 9, 2012).
HealthSpeak
spring 2012