General practice doctors 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 GPs treat.
Early findings from the Royal Australian College of GPs annual Health of the Nation survey show GPs are seeing more patients with mental health concerns – 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.
RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins said, ‘GPs are on the frontline of Australia’s mental health crisis – we do more mental health consults per year than any other speciality or clinician. 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.
‘In the current cost-of-living crisis, GPs are extremely concerned about patients delaying mental health care due to costs. 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.’
Crisis
Dr Higgins said GPs from across Australia are saying they’re seeing more patients with multiple, complex health issues including mental health, and many can’t afford to see specialists or allied health professionals privately.
‘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,’ she said.
‘After decades of underfunding and the Medicare freeze, we need meaningful investment in patients’ rebates to make essential healthcare affordable for all Australians. With the current cost-of-living crisis, this is more important than ever.’
