Why would a psychologist have a model of atherosclerosis in their clinic room?
Author: Tahlia Baumann
That sounds like the start of a bad joke, but there is actually a good reason.
One in 6 people in Australia self-report as living with cardiovascular disease (this is more than 4.5 million people). This means that on average, it claims the life of one person every 12 minutes. Three-quarters of the population are at risk of developing it (Heart Foundation, 2024).
Despite improved understanding of risk factors and interventions, the rate of people reporting having heart attacks has increased 6% since 2017-18 (Heart Foundation, 2024).
Onsite psychologists and physiotherapists are perfectly placed to screen and provide early intervention to people at risk of developing problems with their health. Often, we work together to provide holistic support that addresses physical and psychological aspects of a person’s wellbeing needed for a return to wellness. For instance, a person dealing with heart health issues may not only face physical symptoms but also psychological challenges like anxiety or depression due to lifestyle changes or fear of future complications. Working together, onsite physiotherapists and psychologists can align their approaches to therapy, which can lead to more effective and sustainable health outcomes for the individuals we work with.
While there were 9.1 million GP consultations in 2021-22, this decreased to 7.9 million in 2022-23: a reduction of 13% or around 1.2 million services (AIHW, 2024). Onsite services offer a solution to obstacles people often face when trying to access community health services, including time constraints, availability, and affordability. Collaborative care can also be more effective when both practitioners work from the same location.