The personal and professional benefits of multidisciplinary networks
A new study by La Trobe University and the Mental Health Professionals’ Network (MHPN) shows the wellbeing of Australia’s stretched and under-pressure mental health workforce can be improved when they can connect both professionally and personally.
Co-lead researcher and La Trobe Senior Research Fellow, Deepika Ratnaike said it was widely recognised that increased demand from people seeking mental health support across the country has led to unprecedented pressure on the health workforce.
“Our study, which involved 735 health professionals who provide mental health treatment and support, highlighted the professional and personal benefits provided by MHPN’s National Networks Program,” Deepika said.
Study co-lead Dr Barbara Murphy, Honorary Senior Fellow in the School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, noted that “participation in an MHPN network fostered collaboration, reduced professional isolation, and encouraged increased effective delivery of targeted support for people experiencing mental health problems.
“Several previous studies have documented the Program’s success in building referral relationships between practitioners from different disciplines but the standout finding in this study was the strong endorsement of a range of personal benefits participants received”.
Seven out of ten respondents reported improvements in their wellbeing, with more than 60 per cent noting an improvement in their own mental health, and a reduction in professional stress and burnout. And almost nine out of 10 said that being part of an MHPN network increased their confidence, and more than 70 per cent benefitted from boosted resilience. Eighty per cent of the respondents said participating in the program contributed to their work satisfaction.
MHPN’s CEO, Dr Daisy Brooke, said the National Networks Program continued to be the central pillar for MHPN to achieve its goal of supporting those working in mental health to work together better. The Program’s ability to draw together practitioners in their local community, from different disciplines, across all states and territories, to meet and engage in peer support and interprofessional learning has been consistently popular with time-poor clinicians.
“For 15 years, thousands of practitioners across the country have engaged in the Program annually, confirming its value and importance in supporting the mental health workforce,” Dr Brooke said.
The program has continually evolved and will continue to do so to meet the future needs of this vital workforce.
Deepika said enabling collaborative multidisciplinary practice among health professionals was an important strategy in supporting the mental health and psychological wellbeing of the mental health workforce.
“Increased wellbeing of the health workforce will also improve its capacity to respond to the increasing demand in mental health support,” Deepika said.
Learn more and get involved with MHPN’s National Networks Program:
Deepika Ratnaike and Dr Barbara Murphy are External Advisors on MHPN’s Evaluation Committee.
