|
Posted by: b4iquit on 2010-01-27, 01:36:02
A Mental Health Plan is just what it says, beneath that it is a Program funded by the Federal Govt through Medicare to help ensure busy GPs take the time (and are paid for it) to properly address the mental health needs of individuals with complex mental health and possibly general health concerns. So rather than just writing a script and calling for the next patient the GP can take the time to properly assess your mental health needs and agree on strategies to help address those needs. Strategies can include medication, follow up appointments, exercise, diet, psychologists, psychiatrists and what ever other reviews might help the patient maintain or improve their mental health. A skeptic might argue that the Mental Health Plan is little more that a piece of paper and medicare charge number, and in part they would be right. In broader terms, if used as intended, it means patients mental health is given more attention than might be found in a ten minute GP appointment for antibiotics etc. Mental Health is inherently more complex than getting cream for a rash or antibiotics if your unwell, or nothing if what you have is a virus. So, nothing to be scared of, it just shows your doctor is taking a more holistic approach to your mental health which will hopefully work better for you than a piecemeal approach. It just sets out the multiple actions that might be agreed upon to help u deal with your anxiety and depression. be safe, be sage |
