GP
General Practitioners (GPs) play a central role in mental health care, often being the first point of contact for individuals seeking help with mental health concerns. They provide holistic care, addressing both physical and mental wellbeing. Discover their role, qualifications, and working settings.
What is a GP?
A GP, or general practitioner, is usually the first doctor people see if they have health concerns.
Many people will have appointments with the same GP for years if not decades. They are also known as family doctors, as they tend to become invaluable sources of medical information and support for individuals, families, and their communities.
GPs have completed education and training in general practice, including a basic medical degree, internships and residencies, and further training. They have the knowledge, skills and qualifications needed to provide one-off or continuous healthcare for all people from all walks of life.
The profession understands that patients will have unique needs based on a range of factors, including their general health and medical status, as well as age, sexuality, gender identity, and cultural background.
For many people, a GP is the first healthcare professional they speak to about their mental health. This can be a difficult or sensitive conversation for the patient. But GPs are in a great position to provide information and support, from initial conversations through to appropriate referrals.
How to become a GP in Australia
What qualifications do I need?
General practice is a common career choice for medical graduates in Australia, including in Queensland. According to figures from 2019, Queensland had the highest density of general practitioners across all Australian states, with 125.4 GPs per 100,000 people. In comparison, next door in NSW there were 120.7 GPs; ACT had the lowest figure at 92.9.
In Australia, the career path towards general practice involves a combination of tertiary qualifications, internships and residencies, and vocational training. The most common pathway is outlined below.
A medical degree
If you are applying for a medical degree, be sure to check the entry requirements for the university or universities you are interested in.
If you are a high school graduate without previous tertiary study, you will probably be required to meet at least one of the following requirements: a high score in the Undergraduate Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT); an ATAR score of 99 or higher at the end of year 12; and an interview with the university. Your degree should take five or six years to complete.
If you are a graduate with an undergraduate degree, you will probably be required to meet at least one of the following requirements: a high score in the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT); a high grade point average (GPA) for your previous degree; and an interview with the university. Your medical degree should take four years to complete.
A one-year internship
Over the span of a year, you will spend time working – or rotating – between different departments in a hospital.
A residency
For at least one year, you will undertake more rotations in a hospital, now as a resident. Some residents achieve entry into vocational training quickly, and only complete one year as a resident. Others stay for a number of years before they are admitted to the vocational training program they want.
Vocational training
The final step in your study pathway is a vocational training program. Positions are limited, so you may need to apply a number of times.
Once there you will complete one of two vocational training options: a Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP), which takes three years, or four years if you wish to undertake further rural skills training; or a Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM), which takes four years.
At the end of this pathway, you will be a fully qualified general practitioner.
Where GPs work
Many GPs work at a standalone medical practice, either by themselves or alongside other GPs. But they may also work in hospitals, residential care facilities or other healthcare facilities.
They undertake appointments in a range of ways, including in person, at home, or even online or over the phone. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth consultations undertaken via a phone or video link have become increasingly common.
The daily life of a GP in Queensland
The workday of a GP is often a flurry of activity, with many patients from diverse backgrounds requiring attention for a wide range of concerns.
GPs spend a lot of their time in private appointments with their patients. These tend to follow a similar structure: the GP will consult with the patient, listen to their concerns, and suggest treatment options. They will also take notes for the patient’s record, usually before, during and after the appointment.
Every patient and every appointment is unique, so GPs need to be responsive to a wide range of potential needs and outcomes. They may be treating one-off illnesses or concerns, providing preventative care, or coordinating healthcare plans for patients with multiple needs.
Here are some of the services GPs commonly provide:
- treatment for injuries and illnesses. If patients are enquiring about or presenting with a serious injury or illness, they are advised to call an ambulance on triple zero (000) or go to a nearby hospital emergency department.
- general health advice
- treatments or advice for chronic health conditions
- prescriptions for medicine
- health screenings, e.g. cervical screenings or blood pressure checks
- vaccinations
- assistance with pregnancy and child healthcare
- mental health assistance.
Mental health training for GPs
There are many training opportunities to assist general practitioners in learning the knowledge and skills to assess, treat, plan and review common mental health conditions. Here are some organisations you can explore as collated by Brisbane North PHN:
- Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM): Tailors mental health training to meet the unique needs of rural healthcare providers, available both online and in-person.
- Australian Society of Psychological Medicine (ASPM): Offers comprehensive training for medical practitioners, emphasising trauma-informed and culturally respectful care.
- Black Dog Institute: Enhances health professionals’ expertise in mental health through specialised programs.
- Centre for Mental Health Education: Provides intensive courses in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and trauma-focused therapies.
- CheckUp: Delivers targeted training in psychological therapies for healthcare professionals.
- General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC): Equips GPs with essential skills for mental health assessment and patient management.
- Health Education and Training Institute (HETI):HETI provides mental health education and training for the NSW mental health workforce and the wider mental health workforce.
- Larter Consulting: Helps GPs improve their skills in managing mental health issues and preparing treatment plans.
- Mental Health Act 2016 Training (Queensland Health): Offers online courses on the provisions and application of the Mental Health Act 2016.
- Psych Scene: Provides advanced training to enhance GPs’ capabilities in diagnosing and managing mental health disorders.
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Learning: Offers a variety of training formats, including eLearning and blended learning for mental health professionals.
- RACGP (Royal Australian College of General Practitioners): Offers a diverse range of educational programs and activities for GPs.
- Professional Development People (PDP): Delivers flexible professional development programs through various modes, including online and in-person.
- Think GP: Provides GPs with free access to a wide range of online educational activities accredited by RACGP and ACRRM.
Alcohol and Other Drugs
- Insight: Specialises in workforce development and training services related to alcohol and drug issues.
- Queensland Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies (QNADA): Supports treatment services for alcohol and other drug dependencies.
Children and Families
- Emerging Minds: Supports professionals in identifying and addressing mental health risks in children and families.
Disaster Mental Health
- Phoenix Australia: Provides training and resources for managing the mental health impacts of disasters.
Domestic and Family Violence (DFV)
- Queensland Health DFV Resources: Offers training and resources for healthcare workers to understand and respond to domestic and family violence.
Eating Disorders
- National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC): Provides eLearning modules for GPs on essential skills for managing eating disorders.
- The Australian Centre for Eating Disorders: Offers professional development courses focused on the treatment of eating disorders.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- EMDR Training Australia and New Zealand: Provides basic to advanced EMDR training, including courses on structural dissociation and anger management.
- EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA): Offers extensive training programs for practitioners in EMDR therapy.
Multicultural Training and Resources
- Queensland Transcultural Mental Health Centre: Specialises in culturally responsive mental health care and support for diverse populations.
How do GPs provide mental health support?
When people are experiencing difficult or unusual thoughts, feelings and behaviours, an appointment with a GP is a great starting point for the mental health support they may need.
GPs can assist people with mental health concerns in a variety of ways. In many cases, they will create a mental health treatment plan for their clients. This will involve a conversation, or a number of conversations, about the person’s symptoms, experiences and general life circumstances.
The GP may draw on this consultation as well as physical examinations or laboratory tests to make an initial diagnosis and suggest next steps.
They may also refer their clients to other healthcare professionals for further diagnosis and treatment options. Other professionals in the mental health field include counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists.
Common questions about GPs
GP stands for general practitioner.
It is common for the process to take between 10 and 13 years, from your medical degree to the completion of your vocational training.
When looking for a new GP, it’s important to find someone you feel comfortable talking to. After all, it’s common to see the same GP on a long-term basis, for years or even decades. Many people also find it difficult to discuss and seek help for their health challenges. They need a GP who is trustworthy, approachable, and accommodating of their personal circumstances, including any language or cultural differences.
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