Young Minds Project

The Australian mental health agenda is rapidly changing, with a strong emphasis on the need to address youth mental health issues. There are currently a number of national programs focusing on youth mental health, including the expansion of Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Initiative (BOiMHCI) to provide youth Access to Applied Psychological Services (ATAPS) and headspace: the National Youth Mental Health Foundation. It is vital to the uptake and success of these programs, that GPs are supported with access to youth mental health training. Despite these initiatives and GP demand, there continues to be a lack of focused youth mental health professional education for general practitioners, allied health professionals and other primary care workers.

beyond blue: the national depression initiative and the Australian General Practice Network has formed a partnership to develop the Young Minds training program for GPs, practice staff and allied health professionals focusing on skills development in the diagnosis, management and treatment of high prevalence mental health disorders commonly occurring in young people.

Young Minds is an online skills program in the identification, diagnosis and treatment of high prevalence mental health disorders occurring in young people between the ages of 12 and 24, including:

  • Clinical information and practice guidelines on the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and management of common mental health problems experienced by young people;

  • Outcome measures commonly used in the diagnosis of these disorders;

  • Treatment guidelines and fact sheets for primary care professionals;

  • Information about how to develop a 'youth friendly' practice; and

  • Resources and support material to support patient psycho-education.

This training package is aimed at GPs, allied health professionals and other primary care workers who have an interest in youth mental health, prevention and early intervention.

The training package is made available free of charge for primary care professionals.

The training package is accredited/endorsed with/by:

  • The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) - 5 PDP Core Points and 10 Extended Skills Points

  • Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) - active learning module (40 category 1 points)

To go to the training site click here