Mindgardens Clinic for Depression
Professor Samuel Harvey
Professor Samuel Harvey
MBBS, MRCGP, MRCPsych, FRANZCP, PhD
Professor Samuel Harvey
MBBS, MRCGP, MRCPsych, FRANZCP, PhD
Professor Samuel Harvey is a psychiatrist and epidemiologist with a particular interest in the overlap between mental health, physical health and work.
After initially working as a general practitioner, Professor Harvey trained in both general adult and consultation liaison psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital and Institute of Psychiatry in London. He completed his PhD with the University of London, with a thesis titled Does physical activity protect against common mental disorders? And in 2009, was awarded the UK Royal Society of Medicine Young Epidemiologist of the Year award.
Professor Harvey’s research considers the role work and workplace trauma may have in precipitating mental illness, the occupational outcomes of those already suffering from mental disorders, predictors of sickness absence and workplace based interventions for both the treatment and prevention of mental disorders. He co-leads a five year program of research at UNSW examining specific mental health problems encountered by police, fire and ambulance officers.
Professor Harvey also studies the overlap between physical and mental health, including chronic fatigue syndrome, the impact of depression on chronic medical conditions and the role of lifestyle factors in common mental disorders. He works as a consultation liaison psychiatrist at St George Hospital in Kogarah, where he runs a specialist service for patients with chronic renal disease.
Depression affects the lives of many Australians. Unfortunately, not all adults in Australia who seek treatment for depression receive optimal care and have a sufficient response to treatment. There have been repeated suggestions for mental health reform in Australia, to improve outcomes for those seeking help, to ensure adequate services can be accessed by all, and to meet the needs of groups “falling through the gaps” in the current system.
There is a need to develop a model of care tailored to the “missing middle” in Australia – adults with depression or anxiety that is too severe or complex to be supported by a GP alone, but who do not require in-patient care or community mental health services. Further, the new model of care will need to have telehealth options and have the potential to be implemented more broadly across Australia.
Who is it for?
Every year, more than a million adults receive treatment from a GP for depression. It is becoming increasingly clear that some depression is too complicated for a GP to manage alone, but not so complex that the person needs in-patient care or support from a community mental health team. The Mindgardens Depression Clinic is for this “missing middle”.
About the project
The Care Navigation model of care was co-designed with people with a lived experience of depression, working with clinicians and researchers, and may help people living with more complex depression to benefit from comprehensive, coordinated support.
The Clinic for Depression offered Care Navigation which includes:
- A shared treatment plan including an integrated range of therapies, such as medication, psychological therapy and exercise physiology.
- Review sessions by a psychiatrist, working in collaboration with a person’s GP.
- Regular follow-up calls by a non-clinician Patient Care Navigator to assist people with putting their treatment plan into practice and navigating the mental health system.
The pilot trial in the Depression Clinic aimed to evaluate how acceptable and feasible the Care Navigation program is, whether any changes are required, and whether the model leads to improvements in mental health.
If it is found to benefit patients, researchers could investigate whether Care Navigation represents value for money and should be made available more widely through the healthcare system. Because it can be delivered via telehealth, Care Navigation could also be used in rural, regional and remote areas.
Project Status
The project is complete. However, it has secured ongoing funding and resource support to continue trialling research past the conclusion of this original project.
Outcomes
The project developed a comprehensive co-designed new model of care for depression, with expertise from over 400 clinicians, researchers and patients.
The results demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of new model of care and early results indicate effectiveness on mental health outcomes.
Funding Sources
- Commonwealth grant funding awarded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
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Mindgardens Neuroscience Network acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respect to them and their cultures, and to Elders past, present and emerging.
We acknowledge the voices of people with lived experience, their carers, families and kinship groups. We recognise the expertise acquired through living with a mental health, drug and alcohol or neurological disorder and acknowledge those who care for people on their recovery journey. We place lived experience at the heart of all that we do.
Brings together the strengths of four founding organisations
