Hub offers mental health support
A growing public awareness of mental health issues will be acknowledged with the official opening of the Plus Social program at Mermaid Beach to support the work of GPs and private psychiatrists. Read more
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New service and after-hours community space for people with severe mental illness
Gold Coast Primary Health Network (GCPHN) has officially launched a new multi-million-dollar service and after hours drop-in service to assist those living with severe mental illness in the Gold Coast region. Read more
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Going above and beyond for vulnerable patients
When the Kingfisher Surgery, Buckinghamshire, noticed that some patients were continually phoning in to book appointments, consultations or home visits, they decided to investigate. Practice manager Fazilat Shivji explains how they overcame the impact of isolation. Read more…
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How group membership can help combat depression
Approximately one in five people experience depression at some stage in their life – and the figure is even higher in areas afflicted by disaster, trauma, or poverty. So it would be a lucky person indeed who avoids seeing depression in either themselves or the people they love. But here is the bad news: over the last…
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Reconnecting injured workers and the importance of specialist knowledge
A NSW government-backed social venture called the iCare Foundation funds social enterprises that want to help injured people back into work. The focus is on the social needs of people who have often become disconnected after leaving their jobs. Listen here
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A new approach to helping injured workers (that could also help the economy)
Primary & Community Care Services (PCCS) is helping injured workers through what it calls “social prescribing”. “Instead of prescribing medication, we prescribe social activities in groups and social services and supports,” CEO James Baker says. The program uses existing services like Men’s Shed for recovering workers, as well as its own injured worker-specific activities, like…
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Ditch the pills. We’ve found a better medicine for old age
Social prescribing allows GPs to offer activities and support for older people. They just need to know what’s available Read more…
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New model of support for those with anxiety or loneliness
A project that could help change the face of medical care has been given a funding boost. The Social Prescribing Project will bring together partners from across Scotland and Northern Ireland, having received £3 million in funding from the Big Lottery Fund. Read more…
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Should Australian GPs be prescribing social running groups for their patients?
GP clinics in the UK can now become certified ‘Parkrun practices’ with doctors able to flag patients who may benefit most from physical exercise, and practice staff and doctors also encouraged to join in. Parkrun is a not-for-profit organisation which encourages people to do a 5 km run or walk at a pace of their choosing…
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Poetry and tai chi to boost Swansea prisoners’ health
Sessions ranging from art therapy, sport and gardening will be provided to 20 men at the prison. Until now, prisons have opted for more traditional care services to meet the physical and mental needs of inmates. The first course will start this month, and could be followed be a larger project aimed at improving health…
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