Good Medicine Better Health

Good Medicine Better Health: Anxiety and depression

This course consists of two 45-minute modules that aim to increase the confidence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and health practitioners to educate clients and community members about mental health in the context of social and emotional wellbeing. Participants will gain knowledge about risk factors for anxiety and depression, strategies to manage low mood, medicines that are commonly used to manage depression and how to identify and manage potential side effects.

  • Cost: free

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Accreditation

The National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners has endorsed this activity with 3 CPD Hours.

Endorsement period: 26/07/2021-26/07/2022.

It is recommended that 1.5 CPD hours be recorded for the purposes of self-directed CPD.

 

About

These modules have been developed by NPS MedicineWise in consultation with the Good Medicine Better Health Advisory Group and the following organisations: National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP), National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT) with contributions by Dr Jason Agostino and James Harris (Djinda Creative Resources).

These two modules will help you to

  • have conversations with clients and community members about the importance of keeping strong healthy connections
  • recognise how disruptions in social and emotional wellbeing impact on mental health
  • identify when connections need to be rebuilt to improve mental health
  • outline strategies that can help to improve mood such as going on Country, yarning with elders, reducing alcohol or drugs, and staying strong
  • learn when medicines that can help manage anxiety and depression and how to discuss side-effects
  • explain the importance of regular follow-up with health workers to discuss mental health and wellbeing.
 

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of each module the learner should be able to:

Module 1 – Social and emotional wellbeing and mental health

  • Demonstrate how to incorporate social and emotional wellbeing into discussion about mental health.
  • Describe the signs and symptoms of anxiety and/or depression.
  • Explain non-medicine strategies in the context of social and emotional wellbeing, to improve mental health.
  • Describe the benefits of accessing family, community and health services that foster connection to culture.

Module 2 – Medicines used to manage anxiety and depression

  • Describe medicines commonly used to manage anxiety and depression, and when they are used.
  • Explain how medicines used to manage anxiety and depression work, including side effects and interactions.
  • Demonstrate how to explain expectations and duration of treatment, to increase adherence.
  • Describe the benefits of regular follow up to review non-medicine and medicine treatment for anxiety and depression.
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