WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) has launched a new clinical resource that aims to provide adults with anxiety and depression with quick access to targeted, evidence-based and cost-effective mental health treatment.
Developed in partnership with Curtin University and the Centre for Clinical Interventions, A Clinician’s Guide to Low Intensity Psychological Interventions (LIPIs) for Anxiety and Depression can support GPs and other primary care providers to plan and implement the most efficient, least restrictive, lowest cost mental health treatment to the most people possible and in a way that is specifically matched to the client’s needs.
The manual had its genesis in 2019 with WAPHA’s Principal Research and Policy Advisor, Dr Danny Rock approaching Curtin University and The Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI) to find out a way they could work together to provide people with or at risk of mild mental illness with better access to effective mental health services.
“People with or at risk of developing mild to moderate mental illness represents a significant proportion of the community and access to Medicare subsidised mental health treatment is not universally available.
“I wanted to create a resource that supported clinicians to address this very consequential gap in service provision in a relatively standardised way,” Dr Rock said.
The result was an evidence based clinical manual developed by an experienced team* headed by Professor Peter McEvoy, Senior Clinical Psychologist and Research Director, Centre for Clinical Interventions and Professor of Clinical Psychology at Curtin University.
“The LIPI manual comprehensively guides clinicians from initial assessment all the way through to treatment development, implementation and evaluation,” says Professor McEvoy.
“It can support primary health clinicians to provide lower intensity mental health treatment that does not require specialists, can be offered early in the stepped care approach, at home or in the community, by internet or telephone and at an individual, group or community level.
The manual is complimented by a range of templates and resources to rapidly yet comprehensively assess clients, plan interventions, structure sessions and evaluate treatments to ensure they are effective,” Professor McEvoy says.
The LIPI Manual is available for download at no cost on the WAPHA website. Clinicians seeking assistance with developing their LIPIs can also contact Senior Clinical Psychologist and Research Director, Centre for Clinical, Professor McEvoy directly on peter.mcevoy@curtin.edu.au
A Clinician’s Guide to Low Intensity Psychological Interventions (LIPIs) for Anxiety and Depression was co-authored by:
- Professor Peter McEvoy, Senior Clinical Psychologist and Research Director, CCI and Professor of Clinical Psychology at Curtin University and CCI
- Senior Clinical Psychologist and CCI Director, Dr Bruce Campbell
- Psychologist working in rural and remote WA, Ebonnie Landwehr
- Clinical Psychologist working in private practice, Dr Caitlin Pearcy