Small group peer support for GPs treating mental health problems.

Peer support groups are a mutual aid system in which the facilitator helps group members to help each other. General practice peer support is seen as the provision of support in small groups by general practitioner colleagues. As part of the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Initiative, funding was made available to develop a unique model of peer support for GPs involved in mental health care. It aimed to meet the needs of GPs for support, sharing of knowledge and skills, ongoing education and skills development, while fostering self care. The model involved a GP facilitator training program and manual, which is now available for wider use.