The Myth of Free Mental Health Care in Australia
There’s a common story in Australia about getting “free” mental health care. You go to a GP, get a Mental Health Treatment Plan (formerly called a Mental Health Care Plan) and you can get 10–20 sessions with a psychologist free of charge. Right?
Well… not quite.
I want to point out that this will not be applicable to everyone and it really depends on your personal circumstances, but if you are an everyday working Australian who just so happens to be going through a dark and stormy period or a crisis, this is for you.
When people go through a mental health crisis and they start asking about getting help, the above myth is immediately recommended by friends, family and even some unaware healthcare professionals.
I want to clarify a few things about this.
Firstly, getting a mental health treatment plan is NOT free, and secondly, good luck getting into see a psychologist within a reasonable time frame.
Let me explain.
Australia is going through a significant mental health crisis (which I’ve also written about here) and there is currently an average wait time of 3–6 months to see a psychologist. Which is, in my very humble opinion, totally unacceptable. Either in 3–6 months the crisis has gone, but your mental health and ability to cope might be worse, or…. The crisis has escalated and you now need more intensive support and treatment.
Even if you do get a mental health care plan, the sessions are not free unless by some miracle you can find a bulk-billing psychologist without a significant wait time.
Mental health care plans give you subsidised sessions (up to 20 per calendar year, but you’re GP will likely only refer you for up to 6 sessions at a time), and more often than not you’re still going to pay a gap-fee. This gap fee can range anywhere between $80 to a few hundred dollars. Even with private health (if you can currently afford private health insurance) there’s likely still a charge. Simply, this is completely unaffordable for many Australians. Add in the cost of seeing a GP (unless bulk-billed, which is also getting rarer) and you’re already out of pocket.
I’m not saying I have all the solutions, and please don’t think I’m trying to give psychologists a bad name. I love my psychologist colleagues, and many of them are wonderful people who are also trying to run a business, hence the gap-fees.
However, I want to advocate for an alternative position.
Counsellors are just as equipped as many psychologists to provide mental health services and support. You don’t need a GP referral to go see one, and there aren’t massive wait times like going to see a psychologist.
Most counsellors are also cost effective, and there’s plenty of choice. You should be able to find a counsellor who specialises in supporting your particular issues either online or in-person.
Just to clarify, here are some differences between what counsellors and psychologists do, which I’ve also written about here. But counsellors are often just as equipped to deal with your concerns.
Take your time doing some research and see which healthcare provider you feel is best for your needs. Of course, go see your GP if you need or want to consider things like mental health medication. You always have choice in these matters, and there’s never a wrong or right.
But, if you need to start somewhere, consider a counsellor and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
While I don’t have all the solutions, I believe better education for the Australian public around who is available to help is crucially important with the current level of mental health distress.
Karyna Jansons is a registered Counsellor in Australia and specialises in supporting those who suffer from depression, anxiety, grief and loss and major life transitions. She also specialises in supporting those from regional and remote areas. She loves all things mental health and wellbeing related, chocolate and nature. Go check out more about her at Ceres Counselling, her boutique private practice.
