New GP Toolkit Supports Better Mental Health Care for Diverse Communities
13 Apr 2026
The RACGP’s General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration has released a Specific Populations Resource Hub to help GPs better support patients from diverse and vulnerable backgrounds.
The resources highlight that people from different communities may face higher levels of distress, trauma, and barriers when accessing care. They are designed to guide GPs in providing care that is trauma-informed, respectful, and tailored to individual needs.
The hub includes five key guides focused on:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Veterans
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- LGBTQIA+ communities
- Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations
Each guide offers practical advice, including how to use appropriate language, understand cultural factors, and safely discuss sensitive topics. The resources were developed with input from GPs, as well as people with lived experience, to ensure they are patient-centred.
The toolkit also recognises intersectionality and encourages GPs to consider each patient’s unique background and experiences when creating care plans.
Additional tools such as templates and referral guidance are included to support everyday practice.
https://www1.racgp.org.au/
Source: Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)