Jump in Medicare-Funded Mental Health Counselling

The depth of Australia’s mental health crisis has been highlighted with 226,000 people seeking psychological help within the first three months of a new Medicare-funded counselling scheme.

The new scheme grants patient rebates of up to $110 to see a psychologist and $115 to see a GP with mental health training. In Victoria alone more than 28,000 have sought help for depression, anxiety, and other psychological conditions.

Federal assistant Health Minister Christopher Pyne said that the initial demand had exceeded the Government’s expectations – and he believed the demand would level off –
but said the Government was committed to the ongoing program, whatever the cost.

Australian Psychological Society President, Amanda Gordon, said the early demand demonstrated the extent of the problem in the country today. “There is this whole group of ordinary working Australians who are now able to afford it with the backup of Medicare”.