Challenges faced by general practitioners and allied mental health services in providing mental health services in rural Queensland.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the views of rural practitioners concerning issues and challenges in mental health service delivery and possible solutions.


METHODS
A qualitative study using individual semi-structured interviews.


METHODS
Eight general practices from eight rural Queensland towns, three rural mental health services and two non-government organisations, with interviews being conducted before recent changes in government-subsidised access to allied health practitioners.


METHODS
A sample of 37 GPs, 19 Queensland Health mental health staff and 18 participants from community organisations.


METHODS
Analysis of qualitative themes from questions about the key mental health issues facing the town, how they might be addressed and what challenges would be faced in addressing them.


RESULTS
There was substantial consensus that there are significant problems with inter-service communication and liaison, and that improved collaboration and shared care will form a critical part of any effective solution. Differences between groups reflected differing organisational contexts and priorities, and limitations to the understanding each had of the challenges that other groups were facing.


CONCLUSIONS
Improvements to mental health staffing and to access to allied health might increase the ability of GPs to meet the needs of less complex patients, but specific strategies to promote better integrated services are required to address the needs of rural and regional patients with complex mental health problems. The current study provides a baseline against which effects of recent initiatives to improve mental health care can be assessed.
Bambling
Matthew
M
School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Carseldine, Queensland, Australia. m.bambling@qut.edu.au
Kavanagh
David
D
Lewis
Gisela
G
King
Robert
R
King
David
D
Sturk
Heidi
H
Turpin
Merrill
M
Gallois
Cindy
C
Bartlett
Helen
H
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019090:Case Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D003142:Communication; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006292:Health Priorities; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009938:Organizations / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000458:organization & administration; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011793:Queensland; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration