Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program: Facilitating physical health care for people with mental illness?

Abstract

People with serious mental illness have increased rates of physical ill-health and reduced contact with primary care services. In Australia, the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program (MHNIP) was developed to facilitate access to mental health services. However, as a primary care service, the contribution to physical health care is worthy of consideration. Thirty-eight nurses who were part of the MHNIP participated in a national survey of nurses working in mental health about physical health care. The survey invited nurses to report their views on the physical health of consumers and the regularity of physical health care they provide. Physical health-care provision in collaboration with general practitioners (GPs) and other health-care professionals was reported as common. The findings suggest that the MHNIP provides integrated care, where nurses and GPs work in collaboration, allowing enough time to discuss physical health or share physical health activities. Consumers of this service appeared to have good access to physical and mental health services, and nurses had access to primary care professionals to discuss consumers' physical health and develop their clinical skills in the physical domain. The MHNIP has an important role in addressing physical health concerns, in addition to the mental health issues of people accessing this service.

Mental health consumers' perceptions of quality of life and mental health care

“…A recent evaluation of the MHNIP found that consumers received increased access to support, improved continuity of care and follow‐up, and reduced hospital admission rates (Department of Health and Ageing, ). Other studies have explored health professionals' perceptions of the MHNIP (Happell et al ., ; Hurley et al ., ) the demographic and clinical profile of consumers accessing the service (Meehan & Robertson, ), and the role of MHNIP in facilitating physical health care (Happell et al ., (), but there is a lack of research reporting on consumer perspectives of the MHNIP and the QOL outcomes. The purpose of this study was provide an opportunity for consumers to explore what is important to them in relation to their QOL and the mental health care they receive from the MHNIP.…”

Integrated Care to Address the Physical Health Needs of People with Severe Mental Illness: A Mapping Review of the Recent Evidence on Barriers, Facilitators and Evaluations

“…The personalisation agenda for people with SMI also featured in the National Service Framework for Mental Health in 1999 [9]. Similar approaches to care-coordination have been implemented internationally [10111213141516]. …”

Exploring the value of mental health nurses working in primary care in England: A qualitative study

“…A previous evaluation of MHNIP highlighted it was seen as significantly enhancing primary care services for those with mental health problems and allowing GPs to play a greater role in the management of mental health conditions (Meehan & Robertson, ). A further study has recommended that MHNIP provides integrated care for physical and mental health (Happell, Platania‐Phung, & Scott, ). International research also supports the finding that there can be challenges in sustaining an effective relationship between the GP and PCLN, with GPs noting a high turnover of staff. Retention of staff has been identified repeatedly as a major issue within the mental health workforce and linked to an increased risk to patient safety and of suicide (National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness, NCISH, ), along with increased organizational costs.…”