The Chief Psychiatrist has published this guide to support clinicians to continue providing high standards of care during COVID-19 community transmission.
Its aim is to support consumers and carers to stay safe, plan for isolation, get tested and to plan for and communicate their mental health and support needs to treating teams.
This guide is not mandatory under the Mental Health Act 2014 and is not part of the Chief Psychiatrist’s Guidelines. It is intended to complement existing policy, and to assist clinicians and consumers in care planning and to access state and national information about how to manage in COVID-19.
Communication between carers, consumers and mental health teams is key to supporting high standards of timely, person-centred medical and mental health care. This may be a stressful time for consumers, their families and supports, and increased mental health support and assistance with navigating the COVID-19 testing and treatment may be required.
This is version 1 of the Guide, and future versions will incorporate feedback from mental health staff and managers as our situation changes.
Feedback from staff is welcomed to: reception@ocp.wa.gov.au and will be used to adapt the Guide.