At last: affordable mental health care

Why do we cheerfully get help to fix a broken leg or a sore throat, but unless we’re at crisis point we feel we shouldn’t seek professional advice when working through issues affecting our day-to-day lives?  

While the stigma associated with seeing a psychologist may have lessened over time, many people still feel that seeking professional help is only an option when they’re completely unable to cope.

Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health psychologists Mandy Deeks and Gillian Needleman agree that you haven’t ‘failed’ in managing your life, nor do you lack the skills to do so, if you get professional help. “Seeing a psychologist,” says Gillian, “is about making life easier and more manageable for  you. Psychologists are really well placed to help when people have difficulties in their lives.”

While both stigma and cost may have stopped many people from accessing private services, the good news is that Australians wishing to see a psychologist can now receive help to pay for up to 12 sessions a year – thanks to a new Medicare rebate available from November 2006. When reflecting on the patients who come through her door, Gillian says: “Women sometimes need a bit of help dealing with life changes. They may feel depressed or anxious; their confidence may plummet. There might be a family or relationship breakdown, unemployment issues or concerns about sexual relationships. Often some brief psychological help can make a significant difference; to make sense of what’s going on and provide a tool-kit of coping skills.”

Out of reach

Until now, a visit to a psychologist may have seemed out of reach for many Australians who simply couldn’t afford the recommended Australian Psychological Society fee of up to $186 an hour.Even those with private health insurance – 43 per cent of the population – receive an average rebate of  just $30 to $50 for each visit, which is capped after a certain number of visits.

What’s changed?

A new rebate system available now through Medicare will make a significant difference to our access to psychological help. Both psychologists and general practitioners have welcomed the initiative.

The move is timely, given the prevalence of depression and other mental health problems in our rapidly changing society, according to Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health GP Dr Amanda Newman. “The need for mental health services has exceeded availability across the country for many years and the cost has been beyond the reach of many,” she says.

“This has to be one of the most significant changes Medicare has ever made, in terms of advancing patient access to mental health treatment,” observes Dr Newman. “The perception has been that people only seek help when they’re at absolute breaking point. But psychologists are well placed to offer an  objective view, and one that friends – no matter how good their shoulder is to cry on – cannot do.”  

The big picture

Some $538 million (of the $1.9 billion already promised) has been allocated to help people who may otherwise not be able to afford visits to a mental  health professional.

Rural and remote communities will receive $51.7  million over five years to address an entrenched lack of services.

The Medicare initiative has been designed to encourage team-based mental health care in the community, with psychologists working alongside GPs, psychiatrists, mental health nurses and other allied mental health professionals.

Under a new Mental Health Care Plan, GPs will be  able to refer eligible patients to a psychologist for up to 12 individual sessions. By enabling GPs to  make the referral, patients are treated in a timely manner so life has a better chance of returning to  normal quickly, according to Gillian. Both the GP and psychologist agree. This new initiative links well with national public mental health campaigns. As Gillian says: “The government is encouraging people to reach out for help.”

What do the changes mean for me?

After the Medicare rebate, your out-of-pocket expenses for a visit to a registered psychologist will now be much lower. Check with your individual health provider.

Jean Hailes research updates

The Jean Hailes Research Team is focusing on the continuum of poor lifestyle, obesity, insulin resistance, insulin resistant syndromes including metabolic syndrome and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), gestational diabetes, pre-diabetes, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The progression through this continuum can be prevented and this is the focus of our team’s work.

Major projects include:

Projects on healthy lifestyle and disease prevention

Exercise in overweight women with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

actively recruiting

The role of exercise in the treatment of insulin resistance in PCOS. In an overweight population with PCOS and without PCOS (controls), women are randomised to an intensive intervention with exercise for 12 weeks. Effects on weight, hormones, cholesterol and general health are measured.

Emotional wellbeing in PCOS

actively recruiting

Depression, anxiety, body image, self-esteem and risk perception in women with PCOS. This is a survey-based study of women with PCOS to assess these important aspects. Diabetes – new treatments Do you have type 2 diabetes? Are you aged between 21 and 75 and generally fit? Is your diabetes controlled with diet and/or oral medication? If ‘Yes’, we invite you to take part in a research study investigating a new medication for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes predictors in PCOS

Assessment of insulin resistance and its status as a predictor of diabetes in women with PCOS.

Healthy lifestyle project help for mums

Prevention of weight gain in young Australian women. Delivery of dietary and lifestyle information, with intervention based on behavioural change and goal setting as well as provision of information on nutrition.

The healthy behaviours in Sri Lankan and Indian Australian-dwelling populations

This is a complex and very large study looking at the assessment of metabolic and cardiovascular risk profiles in these populations.

Risk perception in women

Risk perception in women and health related behaviours. These important issues are being studied across all research populations.

Midlife and beyond

Herbal therapies for menopause

The Foundation has just completed a large comprehensive trial on herbal therapies: St Johns Wort + Vitex versus placebo (dummy) tablets in the treatment of hot flushes in menopausal women.

Hot flushes/night sweats

actively recruiting The Foundation is also conducting a clinical trial of a new non-hormonal therapy for hot flushes. If you are aged 40 to 70, with no menstrual bleeding for at least six months, and if you are also experiencing frequent and severe night sweats or hot flushes, you may qualify for this study.

Upcoming trial

Upcoming trial on a non-tablet form of contraception. Women interested in this form of contraception may wish to check the website for further information.

For further information on any of the topics above, please log on to www.jeanhailes.org.au or call tollfree on 1800 151 441. If you would like to volunteer for any of the trials being recruited, please send an email with your details to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 03 9594 7545.

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© 2006 The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health

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Note: This article is an archive. Whilst the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health has made every effort to ensure this information was accurate at the time of publication, the article content has not been updated since the date listed below.

Content updated November 28, 2006