Partners in Mind

Partners in Mind aims to improve existing links between mental health services, specialist mental health services, local GPs and private allied mental health professionals. Partners in Mind is a collaboration between divisions of general practice and local government mental health services to implement a Queensland Framework for Primary Mental Health Care. The goal of this framework is to create an 'ideal' primary mental health care sector. The project is managed through General Practice Queensland and funded by Queensland Health.

Brisbane MIND

Brisbane MIND provides GPs with access to private psychological services to support patients who would otherwise be disadvantaged in accessing treatment.

• Brisbane MIND compliments the Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative which allows referral to mental health professionals as part of the GP Mental Health Treatment Plan. 
• GPs can choose to refer their patients to our contracted Psychologists. 
• Referrals must be initiated by the GP, not by a Psychologist by referring the patient back to the GP. 
• GPpartners pays for the majority of treatment costs for up to six (6) sessions. 
• Patient contribution is $15 / session, except for homeless and Indigenous patients, for whom the service is free. .

Patient Eligibility

Patients must be health or pensioner card holders.* GPs are encouraged to refer patients from the following groups: 

• Homeless 
• Peri/post natal depression 
• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander 
• Youth - patients under 25 
• Aged - patients over 65 
• Alcohol and drug and other mental health 
• Culturally and linguistically diverse 

*Health or pensioner card holders who are not from these groups can be still be referred.

Diagnostic categories for both adult patients (18 years and over) and children and adolescents (5-17 years) are anxiety, depression, drug & alcohol and bereavement. Two additional categories – autism and conduct oppositional defiant disorder – are available for 5-17 year olds. Patients can also be referred for other mental health conditions as per the Better Access to Mental Health Care Medicare Schedule.

GP Eligibility

• GPs must be practising in the GPpartners’ catchment area. 
• GPs new to referring must contact GPpartners’ mental health project officer to book an appointment to complete a referral orientation process (approx 30 mins). 
• Funds are limited and GPs have limited access to a set number of patient referrals per financial year. (Funding is reviewed quarterly and additional referrals are released if available). 
• GPpartners is not able to release details of referring GPs to the public due to the privacy act. GPs who have an interest in mental health can be found at www.beyondblue.org.au (under find a service provider).

Psychologist Eligibility 

• Contracted Psychologists are – appropriately qualified; have current registration with the Psychologist’s Board of Queensland; membership of the Australian Psychological Society; have professional indemnity insurance; are adequately experienced; are currently engaged in clinical practice and, have continuing involvement in relevant professional development. 
• Psychologists interested in becoming Brisbane MIND contractors must have a relationship with GP who currently refers to Brisbane MIND or, is interested in doing so and who is willing to make a recommendation. 
• A GP recommendation means the GP knows and is satisfied with the Psychologist’s work and thus recommends and commits to referring at least one patient to the Psychologist. 
•  Psychologists can contact our mental health project officer to request application material.

Brisbane MIND is managed by GPpartners and funded through the Australian Government Department of Health & Ageing’s Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care initiative.

Last update: 25 November 2009