News

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Mental health care GP toolkit for specific populations

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To support GPs in providing inclusive, trauma-informed and culturally safe care to patients from diverse backgrounds, the RACGP’s General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) has developed a new suite of resources.
 
The Specific Populations Resource Hub recognises that GPs are uniquely placed to make a difference to patients from diverse backgrounds, who often face higher rates of distress, trauma and barriers to care.
 
Each resource in the hub is developed in collaboration with GPs, a carer and patient representative, and designed to support Mental Health Treatment Plans (MHTPs). The guides also recognise and acknowledge the importance of intersectionality among these and other populations.
 
The hub comprises five individual resources, each focused on a different population:
 

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – addresses important cultural aspects such as the kinship system, Sorry Business, and connections to Country
• Veterans – focuses on veteran-specific care, such as PTSD and trauma, working alongside Department of Veterans’ Affairs resources, and administration guides
• Refugees – addresses various topics, such as disruption of education or healthcare, family separation, migration and resettlement, interpreter services and visa guides, for people with refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds/experiences
• LGBTQIA+ – provides advice on how to use affirming and inclusive language, addresses relevant stigmas, and intersectionality
• CALD – addresses topics relating to those of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations, such as how to use culturally sensitive language, acknowledging different cultural beliefs and values, and accessing interpreter services

 
To develop these resources, the GPMHSC convened working groups for each of the five specific populations, who recommended the resources be created to be used in conjunction with MHTPs.

Dr Gillian Singleton, the GP representative for the Refugees resource, told newsGP she hopes the resource will strengthen GPs’ ability to deliver inclusive, trauma-informed and culturally safe care.

‘It was a privilege to be involved in developing this resource with people who have lived refugee experiences, which I believe has made it genuinely person-centred,’ she said.

‘Its purpose is to equip us with practical tools, sensitively worded questions and clear guidance to build trust, navigate sensitive topics respectfully, conduct safe mental health assessments, that minimise the risk of re-traumatisation – always keeping the patient’s unique experiences and strengths at the centre of care.’

Each resource embeds the values of empowering patients and ensuring the language used is kind, non-judgemental and trauma informed.

Dr Jane Macleod worked on the resource for supporting LGBTQIA+ populations and says it will strengthen GPs’ skills and confidence in providing care for these patients.
 
‘LGBTQIA+ people face significant barriers when accessing mental health care,’ they told newsGP.
 
‘Stigma, marginalisation, and discrimination directly contribute to psychological distress and mental illness in LGBTQIA+ people.  Unconscious bias in general practice can result in care that does not meet the needs of LGBTQIA+ patients and, in some cases, may lead to unintended harm.
 
‘The resource provides practical steps to assist GPs provide inclusive, respectful, safe, and affirming care for LGBTQIA+ people.’
 
The Specific Populations Resource Hub is available on the GPMHSC website. A range of other GP tools such as templates and referral recommendations are also included under each resource.
 
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culturally safe care LGBTQIA+ health mental health care Mental Health Treatment Plan refugee health trauma-informed care vulnerable populations

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