General practitioner management of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Ashvini Munindradasa; Grant Blashki; Sally Hall Dykgraaf; Jane Desborough; Michael Kidd

doi:10.31128/AJGP-11-20-5745

General practitioner management of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Aust J Gen Pract. 2021 Jul;50(7):472-477. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-11-20-5745.

Authors

Ashvini Munindradasa¹, Grant Blashki², Sally Hall Dykgraaf³, Jane Desborough⁴, Michael Kidd⁵

Affiliations

¹ MChD, MPH, Academic General Practice Registrar, Rural Clinical School, Australian National University, ACT.
² MBBS, MD, FRACGP, Lead Clinical Advisor, Beyond Blue, Vic; Associate Professor, Nossal Institute for Global Health and Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, The University of Melbourne, Vic.
³ RN, Grad Cert Clin Man, PhD Scholar, Action Research, COVID-19 Primary Care Response Group (seconded), Primary Care Division, Australian Government Department of Health, ACT; Research Manager, Rural Clinical School, ANU Medical School, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, ACT.
⁴ RN, RM, MPH, PhD, Action Research, COVID-19 Primary Care Response Group (seconded), Primary Care Division, Australian Government Department of Health, ACT; Senior Research Fellow, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, ACT.
⁵ AM MBBS (Hons), MD, DCCH, DipRACOG, MCFP, FAHMS, Principal Medical Advisor and Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Australian Government Department of Health, ACT; Professor of Primary Care Reform, Australian National University, ACT; Adjunct Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada; Emeritus Director, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Family Medicine and Primary Care, GVA; Professorial Fellow, Murdoch Children@s Research Institute, The Royal Children@s Hospital Melbourne, Vic; Honorary Professor of Global Primary Care, Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity, Flinders University, SA.

PMID: 34189550
DOI: 10.31128/AJGP-11-20-5745

Abstract

Background: Psychological issues are common presentations in general practice. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a 'perfect storm' for the deterioration of mental health. General practitioners (GPs) are ideally placed to provide supports for people with mental health issues.

Objective: The objective of this article is to provide an overview of management approaches for mental health issues, paying attention to fostering resilience and lifestyle factors, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

Discussion: While feelings of fear and anxiety are expected in these uncertain times, some people may experience an exacerbation of a mental illness or develop a mental health issue for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic. A list of resources available to GPs is provided, and case studies are used to demonstrate how these resources can be used to support assessment and management during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Anxiety / diagnosis
Anxiety / etiology
Anxiety / therapy*
COVID-19 / complications*
COVID-19 / psychology*
COVID-19 / therapy
Depression / diagnosis
Depression / etiology
Depression / therapy*
Female
General Practice*
Humans
Male
Mental Disorders / diagnosis
Mental Disorders / etiology
Mental Disorders / therapy*
Middle Aged
Young Adult