GENERAL practitioners are calling on the Federal Government to do more for Australians delaying mental health care due to costs after a nationwide survey found mental health remains the most prominent health issue being treated.
Early findings from the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) annual Health of the Nation survey show GPs are seeing more patients with mental health concerns.
A total of 71 per cent of GPs reported mental health in their top reasons for patient consults, up from 61 per cent when the survey started in 2017.
Early findings from our annual Health of the Nation survey reveal mental health remains the most prominent health issue GPs are helping Australians to manage.
We know one-in-five Australians delayed seeing a mental health professional due to costs last year, with significantly more delaying care for psychiatrists and psychologists, compared to GPs, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data.
The Government needs to do more to ensure all Australians can access affordable mental health care.
We’re calling for a 20 per cent increase in patients’ Medicare rebates for GP mental health and longer consults to cover the cost of providing this care – so patients will pay less out-of-pocket.
It’s time for Labor to get serious about rebuilding Medicare and providing affordable general practice care.
With the current cost-of-living crisis, this is more important than ever.
Dr Nicole Higgins, President, RACGP
