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Australian Journal of Primary Health Australian Journal of Primary Health Society
The issues influencing community health services and primary health care
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Using the National Mental Health Service Planning Framework to support an integrated approach to regional mental health planning in Queensland, Australia

Eryn Wright https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9651-0405 A B E , Elizabeth Leitch A B , Kevin Fjeldsoe A B , Sandra Diminic A B , Kate Gossip A B , Patricia Hudson C D and Harvey Whiteford A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, 288 Herston Road, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia.

B Policy and Epidemiology Group, Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Locked Bag 500, Archerfield, Qld 4108, Australia.

C Sunshine Coast Health Network Ltd, 29 The Esplanade, Maroochydore, Qld 4558, Australia.

D University of the Sunshine Coast, Locked Bag 4, Maroochydore DC, Qld 4558, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: e.wright1@uq.edu.au

Australian Journal of Primary Health 27(2) 109-115 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY20150
Submitted: 18 June 2020  Accepted: 26 October 2020   Published: 3 March 2021

Abstract

Regional integrated service planning has been identified as a key priority for improving the mental health system in Australia. The National Mental Health Service Planning Framework (NMHSPF) is an integrated planning tool that estimates the resources required to deliver the optimal mix of mental health services to a population. In 2016, Queensland Health commissioned a trial application of the NMHSPF for joint mental health planning between a Primary Health Network (PHN) and the corresponding state Hospital and Health Services (HHSs) in a regional area. The aim of this work was to collaborate with stakeholders from each organisation to collect available data on the delivery and resources of existing mental health services in the region and compare these to NMHSPF estimates to identify potential priority areas for planning. This paper provides mental health planners with an exemplar model for using the NMHSPF to support integrated planning at the regional level and describes the barriers, facilitators and key outcomes of this work.

Keywords: community health planning, community mental health services, health services needs and demands, mental health services, organisation innovation.


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