The Mental Health course is delivered both face-to-face and online and ensures you have the skills required to provide support for mental health disorders in your rural community.
Developed by Rural Generalists, mental health nurses, carers, consumers, psychiatrists, and psychologists, this course has a specialised focus on rural and remote Australia by addressing issues such as isolation and drought.
This course will provide you with an understanding of:
- Depression and Risk
- Planning: Organising Chronic Care and Comorbidity
- Anxiety and Somatisation
- Patient Education and Support
- Using Medication and Chronic Care
Suitable for: Registrars, FACRRMs and medical professionals
This course is delivered both in person and online
This course provides the same content as what is delivered in the online course, but is delivered face-to-face in a discussion-based learning format where participants are able to learn from one another. This course enables you to fast track the application of your Medicare item numbers 2715 and 2717 after successful completion.
Want to book an ACRRM course for your organisation and secure personalised training at a discounted rate? Contact our team about hosting this course today!
Course currently not available
The online course is delivered over four weeks (one session a week) and provides you with:
- Discussion-based learning, with participants able to learn from one another within the virtual classroom
- An opportunity to learn in after-office hours so as to not interfere with clinical time
- The ability to attend from wherever you are throughout rural and remote Australia, and
- Opportunities to make up one session by recording if it is missed
You can participate in the real-time virtual classroom from the comfort of your home or practice. The emphasis of the course is on interactive participation and reflective learning. There are four weekly sessions that consist of self-directed activities, via ACRRM Online Learning, and peer discussions, hosted via virtual classroom. Assessment and evaluation will consist of a number of activities:
- Participation in a minimum of three of the four virtual classroom sessions (the missed session must be listened to by recording after the live session takes place)
- Completion of the Learner Needs and Expectation Survey
- Completion of the Barriers to Mental Health Care in the Rural Setting activity
- Completion of the reflective activity after each online session
- Completion of the Course Evaluation, and
- Participation in discussion forums.
System Requirements:
To participate in ACRRM virtual classrooms via a Mac or Windows based computer:
- Use a headset / headphones with microphone
- Ensure a stable internet connection (preferably broadband)
To access a virtual classroom by iOS or Android mobile or tablet:
- Download the Bb Student by Blackboard App from Apple App Store or the Google Play Store
- Use headphones with microphone
- Ensure a stable internet connection (preferably broadband)
It is important to check that the computer or device, and the equipment is compatible with the Virtual Classroom portal used for these sessions prior to enrolling. To check the compatibility, and for further information, visit our Virtual classroom test page.
No courses currently available
Medicare item numbers
After successful completion of the course your attendance will be reported to the GPMHSC then Medicare, which will allow you access to Medicare item numbers 2715 and 2717.
Accreditation
ACRRM CPD Program
6 Performance review hours, 4 Educational activity hours, Mental Health Skills Training. This course is accredited by the General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) as Mental Health Skills Training (MHST).
Aims and objectives
The course aims to:
- Increase the capacity of rural medical practitioners in mental health care
- Increase the availability of rural medical practitioners trained in mental health for patients in rural and remote areas
- Improve rural medical practitioners' skill in educating patients about mental disorders, and
- Develop networks of rural medical practitioners interested in mental health care who can offer peer support and discussion.
The course learning objectives are to:
- Assess a patient with depression, anxiety, or somatisation disorder
- Assess suicidal risk and institute appropriate preventive strategies on an individual and community level
- Describe a range of psychotherapeutic techniques appropriate for use in general practice
- Identify the issues and resources available for patients with physical or substance use comorbidity
- Identify formal and informal resources available locally and by distance for their patients and carers and families
- Apply mental health education resources for patients in an individualised way
- Acquire the knowledge to prepare mental health care plans for patients
- Help patients develop and institute a personal relapse prevention plan, and
- Develop an on-going learning plan to continue your mental health education.