Mental Health Education Videos

Found 11 videos.

The effect of Drug and Alcohol use on young people and the developing brain

Wednesday 14 May 2025

GPs in our region are seeing a growing number of young people affected by substance misuse.

Learn about the impacts of substances on the adolescent brain, strategies to engage young people in a conversation about substance use, harm reduction strategies, and local referral pathways.

Learning Outcomes:

Analyse the impacts of substance use on the developing adolescent brain.
Develop and implement effective strategies to engage young people in meaningful conversations about substance use.
Evaluate and apply harm reduction strategies for substance use.
Utilise knowledge of local referral pathways to support young people with substance use issues.

Speakers:

Dr. David Gordon | is a psychiatrist specialising in child and adolescent psychiatry, as well as addiction psychiatry. Dr. Gordon holds a BSc, MBBS (Hons), MPsychiatry, and is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (FRANZCP). He works in both public and private practice, including at the Northern Beaches Hospital and MindLife Clinic.

Dr Esther Han | GP/Addiction Specialist NSLHD Drug & Alcohol Service /Clinical Lecturer for the University of Sydney in the Discipline of Addiction Medicine, Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health.

Deprescribing Psychotropics

Tuesday 29 April 2025

The overuse of antidepressants and psychiatric medications is a growing concern for healthcare and regulatory bodies, including the NDIS Commission and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Both the Disability and Aged Care Royal Commissions have called for efforts to reduce this overuse.

Stopping these medications safely has been neglected in psychiatric teaching, leading to significant harm from severe and prolonged withdrawal effects. The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines aim to address this gap.

Withdrawal effects are more common and severe than previously recognized, with some people experiencing debilitating protracted withdrawal syndromes. These effects can be mistaken for a relapse or new condition, highlighting the need for better recognition and distinction.

Advances in the science of stopping antidepressants have led to updated UK guidelines on gradual, hyperbolic tapering.

Target Audience: GPs, Nurses, Allied Health Professionals, Pharmacists, any prescribers or clinicians that have regular contact with people using psychotropic medications

Learning Outcomes:

Identify when, why and in whom to stop antidepressants and other psychiatric drugs
Describe the risks of stopping these medications too quickly
Distinguish between withdrawal effects from these drugs and relapse of an underlying condition
Apply the latest principles in safe tapering to stopping these drugs classes, adjusted to the individual patient

Speakers:

Dr. Mark Horowitz MBBS PhD is a Clinical Research Fellow in Psychiatry with the NHS in England and a Visiting Lecturer in Psychopharmacology at King’s College London. He holds a PhD in the neurobiology of depression and antidepressant action.

Dr. Horowitz is the lead author of the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines and co-authored the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ guidance on ‘Stopping Antidepressants’. His work has informed NICE guidelines on safe tapering of psychiatric medications. He has published papers in top journals and is an Associate Editor of Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. His personal experience with psychiatric medication withdrawal has greatly influenced his work.

Resources:

Dr Mark Horowitz Presentation – Deprescribing Psychotropics

RACGP Link to guidelines: Maudlsey Deprescribing Guidelines

Navigating Behavioral Concerns in the First 2000 Days: Managing ADHD in Early Childhood – Part 2

Wednesday 2 April 2025

This session explores the treatment options for children with ADHD under the age of 6 years when medication is not usually recommended. It will identify supports for parents and carers.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder that begins in early childhood. It affects the brains executive functioning and the ability to self-regulate. Early intervention can assist parents in learning behaviour management skills and strategies to assist their children to improve attention span, and address hyperactivity and impulsivity.

Learning Outcomes:

Describe the core diagnostic criteria for ADHD and how to differentiate it from other behavioural concerns
Describe key factors to consider before referring children with behavioural issues for specialist assessment or intervention Identify non-medical approaches to managing ADHD and behavioural challenges to discuss with families
Identify which specialists and services to involve when managing children with ADHD or behavioural concerns
Determine potential cardiac contraindications and safety considerations related to ADHD medications
Explore strategies and recourses to support families of children with behavioural issues in their communities

Speakers:

Professor Karen Zwi – Dr Zwi is the Director Clinical Services for Child Youth and Family Health at Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD). She is a Consultant Community Paediatrician at Sydney Children’s Hospital and Conjoint Professor at the University of NSW (UNSW)
Dr Tamasin Meller – Community Paediatrician, NSLHD
Dr Lisa Collins – GP and First 2000 Days Project Lead

Resources:

HealthPathways Pages

Username: healthpathways
Password: gateway

Navigating Behavioral Concerns in the First 2000 Days: Managing ADHD in Early Childhood – Part 1

Wednesday 19 February 2025

This interactive online education series’ ECHO workshop is designed for professionals working with children who have ADHD or behavioral concerns.

This session covers differentiating core diagnostic criteria for ADHD from other behavioral issues, reviewing key considerations for referring children for specialist assessment or intervention, and exploring non-medical management approaches for ADHD and behavioral challenges.

Viewers will learn to identify appropriate local specialists and services for referrals, assess cardiac contraindications and safety considerations related to ADHD medications, and utilise strategies and resources to support families and engage communities.

Enhance your expertise and improve outcomes for children and their families.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

GPs, Pharmacists, Allied Health Professionals and other professionals working with young children in the Sydney North Health Network region.

Learning Outcomes:

Differentiate core diagnostic criteria for ADHD from other behavioral concerns.
Review key considerations before referring children with behavioral issues for specialist assessment or intervention.
Explore non-medical approaches to managing ADHD and behavioral challenges to discuss with families.
Refer appropriately to local specialists and services when managing children with ADHD or behavioral concerns.
Assess cardiac contraindications and safety considerations related to ADHD medications.
Utilise appropriate strategies and resources to support families of children with behavioral issues in their communities.

Speakers:

Professor Karen Zwi – Dr Zwi is the Director Clinical Services for Child Youth and Family Health at Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD). She is a Consultant Community Paediatrician at Sydney Children’s Hospital and Conjoint Professor at the University of NSW (UNSW)
Dr Tamasin Meller – Community Paediatrician, NSLHD
Dr Maria Liddy – GP and the First 2000 Days Clinical Lead, SNHN

Resources:

HealthPathways Pages

Username: healthpathways
Password: gateway

National IAR Program: about the Program

Thursday 5 January 2023

The Initial Assessment and Referral for Mental Healthcare Program is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. The IAR Guidance provides support to clinicians regarding how to respond to people when they first ask for mental health support in primary care settings. It guides clinicians in considering what information should be collected during a mental health assessment.

The decision support tool often referred to as the IAR-DST, is an aid that is designed to provide clinicians with an estimate of the intensity of the mental health response that the person may need. This could confirm your clinical judgement or bring further deliberation to the decision-making process. The aim of using the tool is to connect the person seeking support with the right care as early as possible in their journey.

National IAR Program: how will the IAR DST help my Practice?

Wednesday 4 January 2023

National IAR Program: how is the IAR DST used?

Tuesday 3 January 2023

National IAR Program: How will the IAR DST help the people I work with?

Monday 2 January 2023

National IAR Program: A lived experience perspective the IAR DST

Sunday 1 January 2023

Social Isolation and the Impact on Older People

Tuesday 25 October 2022

Through discussion and case studies, viewers will be equipped with tools and tips for GPs and Practice Nurses to connect older people to local community hubs and support networks.

Discussion includes the Social/Medical aspects and the interaction between the two and how they impact social isolation for older people.

Learn practical tools/steps that GPs can take to link patients up to services/support.

Learning Outcomes:

Recognise and proactively respond to the impact of social isolation on older people
Differentiate the need for medical or social prescription when working with patients experiencing social isolation
Compare available services that promote social interaction and evaluate these against the lifestyle and needs of patients

Speakers:

Dr Stephen Ginsborg | General Practitioner
Dr Stephen Ginsborg is a GP with interests include mental health, and elder, palliative and intergenerational care. He cares for all ages, but the challenges of ageing have great resonance for him in his work. He is committed to developing strategies that assist community, GPs and other health care professionals to offer options for people, based on compassionate care in a manner and place of their choice.

Dr James Ibraham | General Practitioner
Dr James Ibrahim is a GP and Director of Terrey Hills Medical Centre. He is the current Chair of the RACGP Social Prescribing Specific Interest Group and Sydney North Health Network AOD clinical lead. On a mission to personalise primary care.

Resources:

Social Isolation Services List

Useful Weblinks

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2394670/

https://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org/the-facts-on-loneliness/

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/methodologies/measuringlonelinessguidanceforuseofthenationalindicatorsonsurveys

https://endingloneliness.com.au/resources/