Aug 11, 2020

Want to see a therapist but don’t know where to start? Here’s how to get a mental health plan

Last week, the Australian government announced it will provide ten extra Medicare-subsidised psychological therapy sessions for Australians in lockdown areas due to COVID-19.

In such a stressful time, many people are experiencing poorer mental health, and some need additional support. However, our mental health system is complex and fragmented, so it can be challenging to find the care you need.

Here’s how to start seeing a therapist if you never have before.

But to get access to these sessions, first you need to get a mental health treatment plan from your GP. This involves an assessment of your physical and mental health, and a discussion of your particular needs. The GP then helps you decide what services you need.

All GPs who write mental health treatment plans have undergone additional training in mental health. There are also plenty of GPs with further interest and expertise in this area. It can be helpful to ask for recommendations from friends and family if you are unsure who to see.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt at a press conference
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt last week announced an extra ten sessions for people under a mental health care plan in a lockdown area. Daniel Pockett/AAP

Physical and mental health issues frequently overlap, so a visit to a GP is an opportunity to assess any physical issues that may impact mental health as well. The GP should explore a person’s strengths and vulnerabilities, before agreeing on a plan for care.

Generally, this process takes 30-40 minutes, so it’s important to book a longer consultation with your doctor. At the end of this consultation, you can have a copy of the plan, and it’s also sent to the therapist of your choice. Once the mental health plan is billed to Medicare, you can get subsidised sessions with your preferred therapist. You will need to make the appointment with the therapist, but GPs or practice nurses will often help make this appointment for patients who are feeling too unwell to manage this phone call.

Using telehealth

Telehealth enables you to get care from your GP by phone or video. The Medicare requirements of telehealth are changing rapidly, so check when you make your appointment to see if telehealth is available and to make sure you will be eligible for a Medicare rebate for this consultation.

At the moment, to get a Medicare rebate for telehealth, you must have seen the GP in their practice face-to-face at some point in the past 12 months.

But this requirement doesn’t apply to:

  • children under 12 months
  • people who are homeless
  • patients living in a COVID-19 impacted area
  • patients receiving an urgent after-hours service
  • patients of medical practitioners at an Aboriginal Medical Service or an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service.

So if you live under the Victorian lockdowns, you can get a mental health care plan via telehealth, even if you have not seen the GP before.

Once you’ve got your care plan, you can do the therapy sessions via telehealth too. And you can now claim them under Medicare (though this wasn’t the case before COVID-19).

 

This story was originally published on The Conversation by General practitioner; Clinical Associate Professor, ANU Medical School, Australian National University

 

Below is a list of organisations you can reach out to for support, or access information online.

Beyond Blue – mental health professionals are available 24/7 via phone, webchat (3pm – 12am AEST) and email (responses within 24 hours).

Phoenix Australia – visit the website for information on post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety management, specifically for those in the healthcare industry during the coronavirus.

Black Dog Institute – visit the website for information on symptoms, treatment, prevention and new research on different mental health conditions.

Headspace – counselling is available online, via phone or at Headspace centres for those up to 25 years of age.

Head to Head Health – access mental health care services via phone, as well as resources and online programs.

National Dementia Helpline – 1800 100 500 – provides information plus emotional support and guidance to people living with dementia, people concerned about changes to memory and thinking, people living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), family, friends and carers of people living with dementia and people who work in health and aged care

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Labor pledges free dental care for seniors if elected

The Labor leader, Bill Shorten, said many older Australians are deprived of the simple pleasures in life because they can’t afford to go to the dentist, and has pledged that if Labor is elected to government, Medicare will cover seniors’ dental care up to $1,000 every two years. Labor’s plan will give 3 million older... Read More

Physical restraints should not be allowed in aged care, medical expert tells royal commission

Professor Joseph Ibrahim gave an impassioned hearing at the royal commission on Thursday, delivering a damning assessment of Australia’s aged care system, and laying down his suggestions, based on decades of research, for improvements. Prof Ibrahim is a consultant specialist in geriatric medicine, who teaches and researches patient safety and aged care at the Institute of... Read More

Will COVID-19 be the impetus for aged-care reform?

  The crisis enveloping aged care at the moment could provide the motivation for reform in the sector that has long been plagued by inaction and intractable debates over key issues. “Aged care is really at a juncture at the moment,” StewartBrown partner, Grant Corderoy, told HelloCare. Undoubtedly there are significant problems in the sector... Read More
Advertisement