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Capital Health Network, ACT’s PHN, commissions CatholicCare to provide Next Step which is a stepped care program providing free and confidential psychological support services. Next Step is based on the UK’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) model, where clients presenting with symptoms are assessed and then ‘stepped’ into a low or high intensity mental health service that best suits their needs. Next Step services are offered by trained clinical and non-clinical workforces who provide Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help participants work through difficult times in their life that impact the way they function day to day.
Over the last 12 months, 1,205 new clients were supported through Next Step (3,022 low intensity and 6,284 high intensity occasions of service were delivered). Services were able to rapidly transition to telehealth during the lockdown with minimal service disruption.
Next Step also began delivering services within Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs). The high intensity clinician has been receiving regular referrals. Although service delivery has continued to be impacted by COVID, some RACFs have been able to support residents to link via telehealth during the lockdown.
Client story
Joan* (not their real name) is an older female who was referred to Next Step by her GP. Joan presented for help with anxiety symptoms which she’d experienced all of her life. Joan reported that her symptoms had been exacerbated following the death of her husband 10 years ago and having to live independently. Joan described her main symptoms as feeling constantly restless and on edge, difficulty stopping worrying, difficulty sleeping, and avoiding situations where she had to make even small decisions or where she imagined that something catastrophic could happen. This resulted in disengagement from family, friends and neglecting making decisions about her home and health.
Joan participated in nine Next Step high-intensity program appointments which focused on managing excessive worry, problem solving strategies and building tolerance to events with uncertain outcomes. A Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) formulation of the problem and how it may have been maintained was developed collaboratively. With her agreement, Joan was introduced to CBT for Excessive Worry.
Throughout the course of treatment, Joan reported that she was able to make progress towards treatment goals of engaging more with her friends and family, make decisions about her own health, and manage essential administration. Joan now reports that while she still experiences some physical symptoms of anxiety around important decisions or when faced with problems, the treatment has helped her to know when to engage problem solving skills and strategies. Joan reported that she no longer finds these overwhelming to the point where she could not make decisions. During and following the course of treatment, Joan’s anxiety symptoms reduced from moderate to the healthy range.
