There are a number of different ways that you might access mental health services in Australia, such as through a crisis helpline, doctors, psychologists, counsellors, support groups and so on. With so many options, it can be confusing to know what kind of service is best suited to you and your circumstances, particularly when you are in the midst of emotional or mental distress. This article aims to describe some of the services available to help you determine what might work best for you.
Mental Healthcare Plan
Often, a first port of call when someone is faced with mental distress is to a general practitioner. Doctors are trained to assess if a person has a mental health disorder (e.g. depression) and can provide a mental healthcare plan for the patient. A mental healthcare plan includes an onward referral to appropriate mental healthcare provider. Under this plan patients are entitled to a Medicare rebate. The rebate is a set amount per session for the cost of up to 10 individual appointments per year with a registered psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker.
This medical route for access to mental health services certainly has its advantages for you if:
- You require a mental health disorder diagnosis
- You need short-term mental health support e.g. for anxiety or depression
- You are unable to pay for the full cost charged by a mental health service provider registered under the Medicare scheme
There are, however, things to consider when accessing mental health services this way:
- Your mental health diagnosis becomes part of your medical records forever and can be disclosed to third parties, such as life insurance companies (you may be deemed as a risk and pay a higher premium) or future employers (such as the police force or ambulance service which require a mental health evaluation)
- You choice of mental health professional is likely to be based on a registered list of providers who often provide short-term solution focussed therapy. This approach can be valuable for some people, but it might not suit your specific needs
- There are often out of pocket expenses to pay, as the Medicare rebate may not fully cover the cost of the sessions, and wait times for appointments can be long.
Choosing your own therapist
There are a number of other mental health providers who sit outside of the Medicare system, including counsellors and psychotherapists. You may be recommended to see a counsellor or psychotherapist by your doctor if they feel that might be better suited to your issue e.g. couples counselling might be recommended for a patient who is struggling emotionally with their relationship.
It is important to note that counsellors and psychotherapists do not assess an individual on mental health disorders through defined criteria. Rather, they see each individual as unique and aim to work within a clearly contracted relationship that enables individuals to obtain assistance in exploring and resolving issues.
When choosing a counsellor or psychotherapist it is important to consider:
- What type of therapy might be best fit you (e.g. psychodynamic, humanistic etc.). This might take some time, research and trial and error to see what resonates with you and your needs
- Whether the counsellor or psychotherapist is able to support you with your particular mental health issue and has the appropriate level of training, expertise and commitment to a high standard of ethical and professional practice
- Whether the counsellor or psychotherapist is a member of a regulatory body, such as Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) which sets mandated training and professional standards for members
Counsellors and psychotherapists are not currently included in the Medicare rebate scheme but often fees are less than registered psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers. In fact, you may find that the cost is not dissimilar to the out of pocket expenses you could pay with a Medicare rebate. Counselling and psychotherapy costs may also be claimed through Private Healthcare funds if the counsellor or psychotherapist is registered.
Clare Walker, Counsellor and Psychotherapist at Therapy Room