The Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program: The Benefits from a Client Perspective

Abstract

It is now acknowledged that a substantial proportion of the Australian population will experience a mental health condition at some time during their lives. Only a small proportion will access care and treatment for these conditions, and those who do are more likely to access general medical practitioners than specialist mental health providers. The Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program (MHNIP) was introduced by the Commonwealth Government to enhance access to mental health care by engaging mental health nurses in collaboration with general practitioners and private psychiatrists. The aim of the current study was to explore the experiences and opinions of clients utilising these services. A qualitative exploratory approach involving in-depth semi-structured interviews was utilised to enhance understanding of the client perspective. Interviews were conducted with 14 clients. Data were analysed using NVivo to assist with the identification of major themes. The findings revealed the major themes to be: initial reactions; a comfortable setting; flexibility; holistic care; and affordable care. These findings suggest that clients perceive the MHNIP as a valuable intervention that met the mental health needs of clients to a greater extent than had previously been possible.

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

“…() study, which identified the centrality of effective communication to the therapeutic relationship. Research indicates that consumers are seeking more meaningful interactions with MHNs, including “friendship” based relationships, and suggest that MHNs should do more “ordinary things” with consumers to help build positive social relationships, that this “ordinariness” helps to demonstrate a “caring about”, rather than “caring for” approach (Happell & Palmer, ). Several participants in this study also identified “friendship” with their MHN as contributing positively to QOL.…”

Physical Health Inequities in People with Severe Mental Illness: Identifying Initiatives for Practice Change

“…These initiatives also demonstrate that when provided with access to education and training and the ability to work collaboratively with primary health care professionals, MHNs integrate physical and mental health needs and are capable of providing high standards of physical health care to people with SMI (Happell & Palmer, 2010;Happell, Palmer, & Tennent, 2011). Similarly incorporation of a nurse practitioner into mental health multidisciplinary teams to provide physical health assessments may result in improved health outcomes for this group (Unutzer et al, 2006).…”

“…Similarly, GPs acknowledge that they don't have the confidence or specialist skills to treat people with a mental illness (Bitar, Springer, Gee, Graaf, & Schydlower, 2009) and that they have no time to provide physical care to this group (Lawrence & Kisley, 2010). This perception is shared by consumers who believe that medical practitioners do not have adequate training in mental health (Happell & Palmer, 2010).…”

Empathy at a distance: A qualitative study on the impact of publically‐displayed art on observers

“…The young people became involved in the art group via referral by Headspace practitioners, including those under the mental health nurse incentive programme that funds credentialed mental health nursing interventions for those with serious mental illnesses (Happell & Palmer 2010). The service runs a weekly social recovery project during the school term (the art group) attended by approximately 15 Headspace consumers, both male and female.…”