First, build the foundations:Practical considerations in general practitioner-mental health service liaison

Abstract

The co-working relationship between general practitioners and local mental health serviceslies at the heart of the success of recent changes in mental health care. These changes haveseen large-scale deinstitutionalisation, a shift to primary and community care, and agovernment policy of prevention and partnerships. This article outlines a liaison projectdeveloped jointly by the South-East New South Wales Division of General Practice and theSouthern Area Mental Health Service to address these issues. We describe the developmentof a protocol of basic standards which were practical, pragmatic and possible and, when fullyestablished, would be the foundation of effective, efficient and efficacious shared care inmental health.