NSW Health’s project showcasing events aim to promote the physical health of people with mental health issues, including priority populations, through practice improvement and innovation, local leadership, and inter-network collaboration in service delivery and design.
The Physical Health and Mental Health Forum 2022 (the Forum) was a collaborative event between the Mental Health Branch and Agency for Clinical Innovation held on the 3rd of November 2022. The forum was held to support the implementation of the Physical Health Care for People Living with Mental Health Issues (GL2021_006) Guideline (the Guideline).
Featured below is one of the five projects showcased on the day, “Gym and Swim”
Sydney LHD
The OPMH – Physical health practice improvement project was showcased on 7 November 2022. Through this statewide project, the Mental Health Branch OPMH policy unit worked with OPMH services and other partners to translate policy into practice. This has project supported OPMH inpatient and community teams from across NSW to develop and implement practice improvements to enhance physical health assessment and care for older people with a mental illness in NSW in partnership with community managed organisations, academic partners, Equally Well, the Clinical Excellence Commission and many others.
For more information see Older people's mental health (OPMH) services - Mental health and the NSW Older People’s Mental Health Services Service Plan 2017-2027.
Transcript: Highlights
South Western Sydney LHD
Dr Carmelo Aqulina, Clinical Director Older Persons Mental Health, SWSLHD
Lachlan Best, Project Manager LIVE WELL and Senior Occupational Therapist, Older Persons Mental Health SWSLHD
More information can be found on the Live Well website.
Western NSW LHD
Gabe McNamara, District Coordinator for Older people’s mental health, WNSWLHD
Dr Rachel Rossiter, Assoc/Prof in the School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences, Charles Sturt University
Transcript: Adapting fit for life
This project has also resulted in a peer review publication in the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity.
McNamara, G., Robertson, C., Hartmann, T., & Rossiter, R. (2022). Effectiveness and benefits of exercise on older people living with mental illness’ physical and psychological outcomes in regional Australia: A mixed-methods study. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 1-13.
South Eastern Sydney LHD
Dr Katherine Mullin, Psychiatrist, Older Person’s Mental Health Team, Prince of Wales Hospital, SESLHD
Natalie Narunsky, Occupational Therapist, SESLHD
Transcript: OPtiMHise
