After campaigning by many groups including SANE, this form of treatment is now available in Australia funded under Medicare, provided by psychologists on referral from a GP.

‘For many years, callers to the SANE Helpline have complained that the psychological treatment they desperately need is only available in the private system, which they cannot afford,’ says Barbara Hocking, Executive Director of SANE Australia. ‘Now, from November 2006, people with a range of mental health problems will finally be able to get the psychological help they need, with the cost mostly covered by Medicare.

‘This is a sea change in how mental health services are delivered, and SANE will be monitoring the new system with others to ensure the change is effectively implemented and helps as many as possible, especially in rural and remote areas.’

A major component in the 2006 COAG Mental Health package, this initiative has a budget of $538 million over five years. It is part of a wider plan to improve the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness in primary care, which will include funding of mental health nurses in GPs’ and private psychiatrists’ practices, as well as more help for rural areas.

The GP will act as ‘gatekeeper’ for the new system, able to set up a Mental Health Care Plan for an individual – including an assessment, identifying needs, agreeing treatment goals and ongoing management. The diagnoses which may be treated under this scheme include anxiety disorders, depression and a wide range of other conditions, including psychotic conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder for which psychological therapy can be a useful adjunct treatment.

As part of the Mental Health Care Plan, the GP can refer someone to a psychologist, occupational therapist or social worker for 12 sessions of Medicare-funded therapy. The approved therapies include not only cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), but also a number of other psychological therapies.

Amanda Gordon, President of the Australian Psychological Society, has welcomed the initiative, saying it ‘shows that the Government now places the nation’s mental health on an equal standing with physical health’.

To find out more

- Ask your GP

- Call 1800 18 SANE (7263)

- email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 
'The SANE Guide to Medication and other Treatments' explains psychotherapy in easy-to-understand language.

Call the SANE Helpline or visit the SANE Bookshop to order a copy.