CSGPN’s Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Shared Care program has been running since 21 March 2011. This project provides patients with care co-ordination between hospital services and their GP; this ensures that patients who require ongoing care continue to receive appropriate care and do not slip between services.

Supervised Clinical Attachments allow GPs to better target their education to their specific interests or learning needs. Any GP can undertake a Supervised Clinical Attachment (SCA) for their continuing professional development. Completion of an SCA provides GPs with 40 Category 1 points through RACGP.

The Mental Health Professionals Network (MHPN) is a not-for-profit organisation contracted by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing to promote, develop and support sustainable, interdisciplinary collaboration in the local primary mental healthcare sector.

The Camperdown Project, announced in August 2009, is due to open its doors in October 2011. The Camperdown Project is a homelessness initiative comprising supported accommodation in a purpose built facility; the specially-designed building will be located on a site flanked by Pyrmont Bridge Road, Lyons Road, Lambert Street and Layton Street, Camperdown.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrist (RANZCP) developed a website, with funding from beyondblue (www.indigenous.ranzcp.org), that provides mental health professionals with information about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health issues. The design of the website is to improve life outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through acknowledgement of the importance of good mental health to overall positive health outcomes.

The National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing conducted in 2007 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that 3.2 million Australians, or 20% of the adult population, experienced symptoms of a mental health disorder in the preceding 12 months.

Updates on: PBS changes for Nicotine Replacement Therapy, more good news regarding other cessation medicines and the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program.