Collaboration and referral practices of general practitioners and community mental health workers in rural and remote Australia.
OBJECTIVE
To assess an important part of Australia's National Mental Health Strategy by examining the collaboration and referral practices between general practitioners and community mental health workers in rural and remote areas.


METHODS
Semistructured interviews.


METHODS
Rural and remote health service region in Australia.


METHODS
In total, 31 general practitioners and 14 mental health workers.


RESULTS
Meaningful collaboration and referral practices between general practitioners and mental health workers are prevented by contradictory and ambiguous definitions involving professional roles and mental health. A pattern of negative collaboration was further magnified by the rural and remote context.


CONCLUSIONS
The implementation of Australia's National Mental Health Strategy faces serious problems in rural and remote area due to the negative collaboration and referral practices between general practitioners and mental health workers.
Lockhart
Chris
C
University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. lockhart@roundriver.org
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D044362:Australasia; D003142:Communication; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*