GPs recognised for mental health leadership

This World Family Doctor Day, attention is turning to the vital role GPs play in delivering specialised, comprehensive and continuous care, particularly in the area of mental health.
 
The annual day of recognition was established by WONCA in 2010, with the 2025 theme being ‘building mental resilience in a changing world’.
 
In recognition of this year’s theme, the RACGP is celebrating GPs across the country for their critical work in supporting the mental wellbeing of their patients through holistic and person-centred support.
 
Acknowledging his colleagues, college President Dr Michael Wright pointed to the Federal Government’s recent funding commitments to general practice as recognition of the important work and contribution GPs make every day.
 
‘Every year, specialist GPs care for more than 22 million Australians, providing the expert advice people need to keep them healthy and out of our hospitals,’ he said.
 
‘The Government has recognised the value of general practice through an historic $8.5 billion commitment to the GP workforce and Medicare, which struck a major chord with the public in this year’s election.’
 
Mental health continues to be one of the main presentations GPs see in their consulting rooms, with the RACGP’s 2024 Health of the Nation report once again listing it among the top three reasons for patient’s choosing to see their GP.
 
According to the data, one in five Australians aged 16–85 experienced a mental illness in the last 12 months, and nearly half have experienced a mental illness at some point in their lives.
 
‘When it comes to mental health care, GPs are often the first port of call, providing accessible quality care for our patients,’ Dr Wright said.
 
‘GPs also play a vital role in ensuring the care patients receive is holistic and continuous, providing support at every stage of a mental illness and coordinating care with other specialists and hospitals or urgent care clinics.’
 
Alongside its calls for higher patient rebates for longer consultations to better support those with chronic and complex health needs, the college President said the RACGP has continued to advocate for increased mental health rebates, emphasising the need to make care ‘more accessible and affordable’ for every patient.
 
Dr Wright also urged his fellow GPs to ensure they are prioritising their own mental health and wellbeing.
 
‘We need to look after the mental health of every member of our communities, and when our GPs prioritise their wellbeing, they can provide better care for their patients,’ he said.
 
‘GPs help build resilient communities, and at the RACGP we believe that every person, in every postcode should be able to access the quality care they need from a trusted GP who knows them and their history.’
 
Log in below to join the conversation.

family doctor GP specialist GP–patient relationship mental health whole-person care World Family Doctor Day