How to access a Mental Health Care Plan in Australia

Author: Skye Cusack

I know this isn’t marketing related, but I really wanted to write about how to access mental health services in Australia. This is in no way going to include any sort of calls to action for marketing services. My only intention for writing this is to offer a reference for Australians looking to understand how to access mental health care.

Those who know me understand and accept that I have suffered with mental health issues for pretty much all of my life. One of my earliest memories is being in Grade 1 and sitting with a doctor to talk about my “Tourette syndrome”. I have never had Tourette syndrome. I did, however, have severe OCD that presented as various physical and mental “tics”.

It took me until I was 21 to be diagnosed with OCD. That’s right - I could legally drink in pretty much any country in the world before I finally experienced some relief from the extreme symptoms of my mental health condition. 

And I think this is an all too common occurrence. It can be hard enough to recognise when you’re struggling mentally, let alone be equipped with the knowledge on how to access the services you’re entitled to for support and treatment.

In Australia, there are a variety of resources available to help you access mental health care, including the Mental Health Care Plan. 

What is a Mental Health Care Plan?

A Mental Health Care Plan is a government initiative that helps individuals access mental health care services. The plan provides a certain amount of subsidized sessions with a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or social worker. 

Typically this covers 6 sessions per year, but certain care plans like mine can go as high as 40 sessions in specific circumstances. Your GP will tell you what you are eligible for, it’s really an individual basis. 

How to access a Mental Health Care Plan

Visit your GP

To access a Mental Health Care Plan, you’ll need to visit your GP. Let them know about what you’ve been experiencing and they will help you understand what is available to you specifically. This may include counselling, therapy, or even medication. If your GP thinks you would benefit from a Mental Health Care Plan, they will refer you to a mental health professional and provide you with a referral letter. 

Real talk: this can be really intimidating. But you have a right to access health care. Bringing a trusted person to the appointment may help, or you might be more comfortable going on your own so you can speak freely. It’s just important to be honest about how much you’re really struggling. I believe in you!

Make an appointment with a mental health professional

Once you have a referral letter from your GP, you can make an appointment with a mental health professional. You can choose to see a psychologist, social worker, or other mental health professional who is registered with Medicare.

A great resource for finding mental health professionals is the Australian Psychological Society’s ‘Find a Psychologist’ page. You can search by issue and location, which was really helpful for me when I first moved to Melbourne and had no connections. Alternatively, your GP can recommend a person for you.

Attend your appointment

Honestly, most of the time there are waiting periods. It may be weeks before you can have your first appointment with your chosen mental health professional. But they will communicate the wait time with you, and you can always ask to be put on a waiting list in case an earlier spot becomes available.

At your first appointment, your mental health professional will assess your mental health condition and develop a treatment plan. They will also reconfirm the number of sessions you are eligible for under the Mental Health Care Plan and any out-of-pocket costs you’ll need to pay.

Claim your rebate

After each session, you can claim a rebate through Medicare for the subsidized portion of the session fee. You’ll need to provide your mental health professional with your Medicare card and sign a consent form allowing them to claim the rebate on your behalf. So make sure you bring this card to your appointments!

I do want to reiterate that this can be really spooky. But you really only need to take this one step at a time. The first step is always the hardest, and once you have the knowledge, you can walk into your appointment with your GP and mental health professional ready to make informed decisions about your treatment.

I sincerely wish you the best of luck with your mental health journey.

If you want to talk to someone ASAP or if you feel you are in danger, here is a list of resources below that you can click through to access:

Emergency Services (000)
Lifeline
Kid’s Helpline
1800 RESPECT
Mensline Australia
Beyond Blue
The Butterfly Foundation
Headspace
Family Relationship Advice Line
Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA) Helpline
SANE Australia