Clinical profile of people referred to mental health nurses under the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program

The Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program (MHNIP) was established in Australia during 2007. The program enables mental health nurses to work in partnership with general practitioners (GPs) in the assessment and treatment of people with severe mental health problems. This paper provides insights into the demographic and clinical profile of 403 people enrolled in the MHNIP in the Ipswich area of Queensland. The clinical presentation (illness severity and symptoms) of those referred to the MHNIP is compared to that of: (i) people referred to a related program known as Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS); and (ii) to clients admitted to acute inpatient care in Queensland. While people referred to the MHNIP presented with more severe problems than those referred to ATAPS, they had less severe problems than those admitted to acute inpatient care. The findings indicate that the MHNIP is meeting the needs of people with complex mental and physical health problems. Further evaluation work is required to determine if the findings from this study can be generalized more broadly. At the national level, consideration should be given to the routine collection of clinical, cost, and demographic data to enable the ongoing monitoring of the program.