Extended Course: Mental Health and the GP [HI4240] This extended course is accredited by the General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) as a Focussed Psychological Strategies (FPS) Skills Training program. This course will deliver training appropriate for GPs to deliver focussed psychological strategies under the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Program for the following disorders: depression anxiety panic disorder adjustment disorders, and personality disorders. Skills to be developed include interpersonal therapies and motivational interviewing. Course estimate:  24+ hours of online learning, plus a two-day practical skills workshop, personal study time and assessment, for a total of approximately 50+ hours. This course is the same as The University of Queensland course GENP7007 Mental Health and the GP in the Master of Medicine (General Practice).  Satisfactory completion results in a Statement of Satisfactory Completion from The University of Queensland School of Medicine and is recognised for credit toward the Master of Medicine award program*.

This course will deliver training appropriate for GPs to deliver focussed psychological strategies under the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Program for common mental health disorders seen in general practice including the management of depression, anxiety, panic disorder, adjustment disorders and personality disorders. The two-day interactive group workshop will provide students with the opportunity to learn, practice and develop the skills of this course, including interpersonal therapies and motivational interviewing, and identify options for ongoing skills development in focussed psychological strategies. This course has been designed to increase the capacity of general practitioners to assess and apply counselling and mental health principles within busy General Practice settings and to reduce the isolation and stress of GPs who take on significant burdens of care in mental health and counselling in General Practice settings.

Teaching and Learning Modes
Students in this course will have access to 7 online tutorials that have didactic and interactive components. Students are expected to spend 1.5-2hrs working through each tutorial plus additional study and reflection time.

During the year, students will be expected to read and listen to lectures, read additional material outlined in the tutorials, such as articles and texts, and contribute to peer discussions.

Students will also actively participate in a two-day practical skills workshop learning, practicing and developing the skills of this course, including interpersonal therapies and motivational interviewing, and identifying options for ongoing skills development in focussed psychological strategies.

Assessment details

1. Online Learning Log Book to be completed progressively throughout the course and submitted online or at the workshop (pass/fail)
2. Examination testing theoretical knowledge to be conducted at the beginning of the workshop (40% of assessment)
3. Competency assessment of clinical skills to be held at one-day workshop (20% of assessment)
4. Assignment to be submitted after workshop (40% of assessment)

*NOTE: If you intend to seek credit for this course, and you intend to complete more than two courses in the Master of Medicine (General Practice) program through UQ Health Insitu, seek advice from the program manager as some administrative pre-conditions apply.

The two-day workshop will be held in Brisbane on Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 October 2009. Attending this workshop is one of the requirements to complete the course successfully.

Please schedule your study plan well in order to enable you to attend the workshop in October before enrolling in this course.

For further information about the scope of the program, click on the links below.