Christmas is a time of feasts and fun, of family gatherings, of tinsel and presents.
For some, Christmas is a time when they feel isolated and alone.
Identifying need
Throughout the Christmas period, some people experience an increase in their feelings of sadness and, at times, they experience suicidal thoughts.
Sometimes, when people are struggling with their mental health, they might raise the issue of feeling sad, present more frequently to health professionals or might not attend important appointments when they otherwise would.
Particularly vulnerable people include the elderly without family support and young people who might not have access to their friends and social supports over the holiday period.
Concerned about patients?
If you are concerned about a patient, we encourage you to ask them how they are and what Christmas time is like for them.
Often, having a moment to genuinely express that Christmas is not a happy time can be enough for people to feel connected and understood.
Support over Christmas
Services operate over Christmas to support those in need.
Lifeline (131 114) provides supportive counselling and listening.
If you hold acute risk concerns for your patient, please contact your local area mental health service.
We wish you, your family and patients a safe and happy Christmas and look forward to working with together in the New Year.
Temporary Extension To ePIP
For those practices registered for the Practice Incentives Program eHealth Incentive (ePIP), this is a reminder about the Temporary Amendment of the Requirements for the PIP eHealth Incentive as circulated early October.
GPs Crucial In Driving Uptake Of New Curative Hepatitis C Treatments
Chronic hepatitis C infection is a major contributor to rapidly rising liver cancer incidence and mortality rates and is now the fastest increasing cause of cancer death.
There are around 65,000 Victorians living with hepatitis C, but only around 1 per cent are receiving antiviral treatment (Hepatitis Victoria 2016). This low level of treatment is one of the main drivers of hepatitis-related liver cancer, liver disease and poor health outcomes among people living with hepatitis C.
The Burn Injuries clinical pathway on HealthPathways Melbourne has been developed to provide GPs with guidance on what can be managed within general practice and when a patient needs to be referred to the regional burns unit or to the emergency department.
GP Views Sought On End Of Life Care And Adult Palliative Care GP Education
HealthPathways Melbourne is seeking general practitioner (GP) input on Palliative Care Training for GPs.
Please click hereto answer this brief survey. It will take approximately two minutes.
How ATAPS Can Help Your Patients
Short-Term Focused Psychological Strategies, also known as Access To Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS), last year delivered services to over 3000 people. EMPHN continues to deliver this program with 140 contracted providers working individually and within community based organisations.
These clinicians have a significant collective skill set and can deliver these services in 22 languages other than English. They can deliver services to a diverse population from various cultural backgrounds with a range of presenting issues.
If you have any questions, please call the intake team on 9800 1071 and a team member will be happy to assist you.
Cold Chain Management Over The Holiday Period
All immunisation providers should ensure effective cold chain management for vaccines using the National vaccine storage guidelines: Strive for 5 and the vaccine cold chain protocol checklist.
This includes strategies for maintaining cold chain during a power outage and monitoring cold chain during vaccine transport.
St. Vincent’s Hospital are seeking participants for research into chronic conditions and quality of life.
The Optimal Health Program is a self-management program which aims to support people with chronic conditions to improve their health by building on strengths and values and offering strategies to support well-being.
Eligibility:
aged 18 and above;
have had a stroke or are caring for someone who has; or
have diabetes (type 1 or 2).
The Optimal Health Program includes:
eight one-on-one, hour-long sessions with a trained program facilitator;
program manual; and
refresher session after three months.
This is a randomised trial meaning half of participants will participate in the program and half will be in the control group (with program available more widely after a year).
Clinicians or patients can contact Casey O’Brien 03 9231 3768 or email Casey.OBrien@svha.org.au.
New Arabic Cartoon Featuring Akmal Saleh Targets Cancer Screening
Egyptian-Australian comedian Akmal Saleh has written and voiced a new cartoon that aims to break down the stigmas around cancer screening using comedy.
The idea for the cartoon came from a group of Arabic-speaking community members from around the Hume area in Melbourne who are aiming to improve the screening rates for breast, bowel and cervical cancers in their community.
Community Development Worker, Simar Amad, is a breast cancer survivor and is working with Cancer Council Victoria on the project.
People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds diagnosed with cancer have poorer outcomes and poorer quality of life compared to others.
“If you’re aged 50 to 74, speak to your doctor or nurse about cancer screening,” Ms Amad said.
“Trust me, it could save your life.”
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