Time to recognise GPs’ mental health contributions: RACGP President

Australian GPs conduct more mental health consultations per year than any other specialty or clinician.
 
From 2020–22, 1.9 million people aged 16–85 sought treatment for a 12-month mental disorder, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
 
Of those, more than one in three (35.5%) reported seeking help from a GP.
 
That’s at least 660,000 different Australians who relied on their GPs for support (the true number is almost certainly higher) in those three years, but somehow, we’re often overlooked in this space.
 
Whether it’s not being consulted on proposed systemic reforms, or missing out on much needed funding, general practice’s contribution to mental health care is taken for granted.
 
That needs to stop.
 
Because as GPs, we know that today – World Mental Health Day – we’ll be the ones answering the late-night phone calls and triaging patients.

We’ll be the ones spending countless hours working through a list of rejected psychiatrist referrals letters for those in most need of special assistance.

We’ll be the ones most impacted by seeing someone who grew up before our eyes break down in our consulting room as a nationwide mental health crisis continues to take its toll.
 
And in the rural and regional areas, like my home of Mackay, it’s even tougher. These places typically have some of the poorest levels of mental health services and access to mental health in the nation, despite a greater need.
 
We struggle to have access to specialist mental health services and psychologists. Often, it is just us.
 
Given all that we do, how is it that we’re overlooked?
 
Mainly, it’s because what GPs do is often unseen. We keep people out of more expensive services, and provide the all-important continuity of care.
 
But while most of us get on with the job with a minimum of fuss, the status quo cannot be allowed to continue.
 
For the sixth consecutive year GPs in 2022 reported that psychological issues were the most common health presentation that we faced.
 
In fact, almost 40% of general practice consultations in a typical week include some mental health component.
 
Unfortunately for GPs, that means we’re probably being underpaid for 40% of our consultations. Why? Because for some reason, Medicare rebates are lower for mental health item numbers than other ailments.
 
That is why today, we want to look forward to a future where GPs are given the investment needed to rollout adequate, meaningful, and compassionate care to all.
 
Where GPs are involved in mental health policy development and given a voice commensurate to the contributions we make.
 
We are the ones at the coalface delivering care and supporting people and their families through their mental health journey, and have firsthand knowledge of what is needed, and what needs changing.
 
Governments at all levels need to work together to help us, help our patients.
 
Mental health is complex and can often be confusing for our patients, which means a shorter consultation time is simply not enough to offer the evaluation needed.
 
Increased funding for longer consultations is crucial to ensuring every patient gets the care they need and deserve.
 
GPs have a wealth of knowledge and experience, and we want to help Australia address its mental health crisis.
 
We want to create a country that offers world-class care, no matter your postcode and where you call home.

But we can’t do it with one hand tied behind our back, and we certainly can’t do it alone.
 
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general practice mental health