Empowering GPs to turn the tide on mental health

As a GP on the front line of Australia’s healthcare system, you’re often called on to be all things to all people. You’re the holder of vast knowledge, the portal to specialist expertise, and the first port of call for people struggling with all manner of health challenges.

Increasingly, those challenges are focused on mental health, one of the fastest growing issues in general practice. According to the 2023 Health of the Nation report, 38% of general practice consultations in a typical week have a mental health component, while 72% of GPs report that mental health is the leading reason that patients present to be seen.

Those numbers track with global trends: across the world, structural threats are entrenching mental ill health into the fabric of contemporary society. As a GP, you can’t solve this challenge on your own, but building specialist skills in mental health can help empower you to play your part.

Learning the ropes of evidence-based care
Mental health training can prepare you to deliver evidence-based care, leading to better outcomes for your patients. And it doesn’t just benefit patients: quality training can support you to fulfil your CPD requirements and, importantly, help you to become more resilient to burnout.
 
One study found that access to professional development, training and educational resources can help healthcare workers ‘feel more confident, engaged and motivated, thereby reducing burnout’.
 
What’s more, upskilling can also help professionals avoid the threat of ‘boreout’, which results from being under-stimulated at work.
 
If you’re interested in upskilling in mental health, it’s important to choose the right training provider. Black Dog Institute, a global leader in mental health and suicide prevention and the only medical research institute in Australia to investigate mental health across the lifespan, is a registered RACGP CPD provider. That means the Institute is recognised by the RACGP for its quality education and training offerings, which can help you get the most out of your training experience.
 
Black Dog Institute delivers numerous mental health training courses designed specifically for GPs; each one focuses on a common mental health complaint that you’re likely to encounter in your day-to-day practice. Courses include Dealing with Depression, Dealing with Anxiety Disorders, Talking about Suicide in General Practice, and the ABC of CBT: Skills for GPs, which are all accredited by the RACGP and ACRRM.
 
In addition to GP-specific courses, Black Dog Institute delivers a range of programs designed for multidisciplinary primary healthcare professionals on topics including managing bipolar disorder, youth mental health and perinatal mental health.
 
A rigorous approach to mental health training
In addition to being an RACGP CPD Provider, Black Dog Institute takes pride in delivering content that’s informed by theory and the latest research evidence, including findings from the Institute’s own world-leading research programs.
 
Training is delivered by GPs, which means you’ll be learning from peers who understand the realities of contemporary general practice. Further, course content is regularly evaluated to ensure it delivers on its promise, and courses are offered in a range of modalities (eg options for face-to-face, online, self-directed and blended learning) to suit your individual learning needs and preferences.
 
If you’re ready to take the step towards delivering more responsive, effective and evidence-based mental health care for your patients, Black Dog Institute can show you how. Visit our website to explore the Institute’s GP training offerings, or contact education@blackdog.org.au.
 
This article was commissioned by the Black Dog Institute and independently reviewed by newsGP.
 
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Black Dog Institute CPD mental health training