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Turanganui PHO mental health programme praised and encouraged

"This programme acts as the ambulance at the top of the cliff before problems become entrenched. It's brilliant." - Zoe Alford, Counsellor

Pilot primary mental health programmes such as the one managed by Turanganui Primary Health Organisation’s Robert Armstrong, received glowing support recently from AUT University Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Max Abbott.

Speaking to the New Zealand Herald, Prof Abbott said there should be the same emphasis on mental health in primary care, as there is on physical health, and he called for the programmes to be sustained and carried forward.

“I’m aware the GPs and primary health care people can’t anywhere near meet the requests they’re getting for the pilot projects they’ve set up,” he said.

Prof Abbott is the past president of the World Federation for Mental Health, and past national director of the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.

This district’s pilot project started in December 2007. Known as the Primary Mental Health Initiative the “bottom up” approach is designed to offer assessment, treatment and support to people presenting to general practitioners with mild to moderate mental health conditions.

Patients qualifying for help in this district are able to have an extended consultation with a GP at no extra cost, and may then be referred to Turanganui PHO’s Primary Mental Health Clinical Liaison Robert Armstrong.
Between December 2007 and June 2008 Turanganui PHO-affiliated general practitioners carried out 125 extended consultations. Robert Armstrong saw 136 patients between December 2007 and this September.

Mr Armstrong says the five Turanganui PHO general practices involved (The Village Clinic, City Medical Centre, Serendipity Health Ltd, Kaiti Medical Centre and Mangapapa Medical Centre) are regular referrers and the feedback he was getting was positive.

Examples of patients referred include those experiencing panic attacks, depression, or anxiety, for any number of reasons.

“After assessing a patient I can suggest community organisations that may benefit a person. These may include relationship counseling, Women’s Refuge, or budget advice. I also have the ability to refer on for psychological input or for counselling.”

One counsellor, Zoe Alford, said there was no doubt the Turanganui PHO primary mental health initiative was filling a gap.

Mrs Alford said some mental health issues may in time drain the public purse, but if they can be managed early, then everyone benefits.

"Most patients with mild to moderate mental health issues need only a few sessions, and then they are away. This programme acts as the ambulance at the top of the cliff before problems become entrenched. It's brilliant."

Mrs Alford praised Mr Armstrong’s ability to assess patients.

“He is sending me people who can be helped by what I do in four sessions. He gets one interview to do that and there is a real skill involved. You need experience and he is getting it right.”

“There is a good team thing going on here.”

She said the other wonderful aspect of the programme was that it made counselling (and other help) available to those who would not otherwise be able to afford it.

“If someone’s mental health issue is moderate to severe, they may be able to access free counselling up at the hospital. With the new programme, if a person’s issue falls into the moderate to mild category, they too can receive free help.