Home > For Consumers > Education and Prevention > Mental Health > Publications

Publications

Better access to mental health care

Brochure for consumers and carers on access to mental health care.

Better access to mental health care (PDF 1620 KB large file)

Your mental health and wellbeing
How can a general practitioner (GP) help?
The GP mental health treatment plan
How can Medicare help you?
Handy hints
More information for patients and carers

Your mental health and wellbeing

Mental illness is common. About one in five Australians will experience a mental illness in any given year. Almost half will experience a mental illness at some stage in their lives.

For many people, talking to a GP is the first step towards getting help. Your GP is interested in your mental health and wellbeing.

Each year around three-quarters of a million Australians seek help from a GP for a mental illness.

If you feel you might need help to improve your mental health and wellbeing, you should talk to a GP.

There is a range of mental health services available, depending on your needs.
Top of page

How can a general practitioner (GP) help?

A visit to a GP should be your first step in seeking help with your problem.

Your GP can discuss any concerns you have and give you advice on what to do next.

After you discuss your problem, your GP may:

• diagnose you with a physical condition
• refer you to a community-based service
• refer you to a mental health specialist for assessment and/or treatment or
• advise you to continue seeing your GP for ongoing support and/or treatment

Your GP may assess you as having a mental illness, and suggest that you will benefit from a GP mental health treatment plan.

Developing a GP mental health treatment plan allows you and your GP to talk about the mental health problems you are having.

Together, you can then work out how best to get help.
Top of page

The GP mental health treatment plan

This involves you and your GP discussing your medical history, lifestyle and social situation to better understand why you feel the way you do.

The GP mental health treatment plan is tailored to your needs, to find the treatment that is right for you, check your progress and to help you reach your goals.

Your GP can give you advice and work with you to decide the approach that will suit you best, to improve your mental health.

After completing your GP mental health treatment plan, your GP should offer you a copy of the plan or you may request a copy from your GP.

Your GP may refer you to a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health professional, depending on your needs. If you agree, your GP may give them a copy of your GP mental health treatment plan.

Your GP will probably ask you to return for a review of your mental health plan to ensure you are getting the help you need. If you feel that the mental health treatment is not right for you it's also a good idea to go back to your GP.
Top of page

How can Medicare help you?

Rebates are available through Medicare for mental health care services for eligible people.

Your GP may refer you to a psychiatrist to seek expert advice and/or treatment. Psychiatrists are medically trained doctors who have specialised in the treatment of mental illnesses in a variety of ways, including psychotherapy (talking therapies) and medication.

If you have a GP mental health treatment plan your GP may refer you for Medicare-subsidised sessions with a psychologist, or an appropriately trained doctor, social worker or occupational therapist. A psychiatrist or paediatrician may also refer you for Medicare-subsidised treatment with a psychologist, an appropriately trained social worker or occupational therapist. You may receive up to 12 sessions of individual therapy in a calender year. An additional six sessions may be available in exceptional circumstances.

Group sessions (up to 12) are available, in addition to individual sessions, in a calendar year.

These treatment limits do not apply to treatment provided by a psychiatrist.

In addition to assessment and treatment by a psychiatrist, Medicare rebates are available to eligible people for the following:
Top of page

Focussed psychological strategies

Focussed psychological strategies can be provided by a psychologist, or by an appropriately trained doctor, social worker or occupational therapist.

The aim of this treatment is to help you understand more about your mental illness and to learn strategies to manage the difficulties you are experiencing.

A session involving focussed psychological strategies can be one-on-one or in a group.

Psychological therapy

Psychological therapy is also available as a treatment option under a GP mental health treatment plan and is provided by a clinical psychologist.

The aim of psychological therapy is to treat your mental illness through looking at your thoughts, emotions, the way you behave and your relationships with others.

A session involving psychological therapy can be one-on-one or in a group.

If you would like to know more about these options, please talk to a GP.
Top of page

Your Health Record

As with other medical services, when these services are provided to you they will become part of your medical records held by your GP and also Medicare Australia (where a claim is made from Medicare for these services).

Your medical record is private to you. However, you should be aware that you may be asked for permission by other people or organisations, such as insurance companies, to view this information.

Handy hints

• Make sure you book a long consultation with your GP to allow you and your GP enough time to prepare a GP mental health treatment plan and discuss your treatment options.
• You can discuss with your GP options for involving family members, friends or your carer.
• Everyone's treatment needs are different; your GP can help you work out what services are best for you.
• Remember to tell your GP about all the medications you are taking, including over the counter and herbal medicines, as they may affect the way you feel.
• When making an appointment you can ask if your health professional bulk bills, what fees are charged and how much you'll get back from Medicare.Top of page

More information for patients and carers

beyondblue
www.beyondblue.org.au

Multicultural Mental Health Australia
www.mmha.org.au

Australian Government
www.mentalhealth.gov.au

SANE Australia
www.sane.org

Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia
www.mifellowshipaustralia.org.au

24-hour crisis counselling services

Lifeline
13 11 14

Kids Help Line
1800 55 1800

Mensline Australia
1300 789 978

If you need language assistance please call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 13 14 50.

If you are unable to download the PDF document, you can order a hard copy from National Mailing and Marketing on (02) 6269 1080 or health@nationalmailing.com.au (publication code MH234)

Page last reviewed: 24 September 2010