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‘More must be done’: RACGP calls for mental health support boost
Higher rebates for longer GP consults is one step among many needed to overcome mental healthcare challenges in the bush.
‘Australia is in the middle of a mental health crisis, and more must be done to ensure all patients can access the mental health services they need,’ says the RACGP President.
The RACGP has marked World Mental Health Day by highlighting the challenges GPs face in providing mental health services in rural Australia, urging all levels of government to step up.
It comes after the college released its 2025 Health of the Nation Report this week, which shows 71% of GPs nominated mental health concerns as a top reason for patient presentations – a leap from 10% in 2017 when the survey began.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said that the time to act is now.
‘Australia is in the middle of a mental health crisis, and more must be done to ensure all patients, including those living in remote and rural areas, can access the mental health services they need,’ he said.
In an updated position statement, Provision of mental health services in rural Australia, the RACGP outlines several barriers to care access, including a lack of mental health specialists and support services, and insufficient rebates for longer consultations (Level C and Level D), including those for mental health presentations.
The statement also proposes a raft of solutions, including:
- a 40% increase to MBS rebates for longer consultations and a 25% increase in rebates for mental health item numbers
- decoupling the GP Focused Psychological Strategies (FPS) items from the Better Access Initiative, and a doubling of the session limit to 20
- a commitment from all levels of government to improve the primary health workforce in rural and remote areas, with GPs playing an integral part in providing accessible mental health services
- state and federal governments to expand and support community-based training rotations through the funding of the RACGP Pathways to Rural program
- a funding boost for GP training and to address acute shortages of GPs in rural and remote areas through investment in the Fellowship Support Program and Practice Experience Program – Specialist.
RACGP Rural Chair Associate Professor Michael Clements told
newsGP most of the work in mental health is performed by GPs.
‘We know from the Health of the Nation survey, which is supportive of every other survey that’s been done, that it is GPs that deliver most mental health care and support nationally,’ he said.
‘Only a small percentage of people end up with mental health treatment and support from a psychiatrist … and psychologists provide a very small sub-set of care to a sub-set of the community, but the absolute bulk is done by GPs.
‘This occurs nationally, but we certainly feel it more acutely in the regional rural areas. We know that the only health provider in many rural and regional communities is the GP and for people who are seeking support … the only place that they present for that support is the hospital or general practice clinic, and so we are the bulk of work in those areas.’
Associate Professor Clements said there are a number of ways to better support GPs and their patients.
‘GPs across Australia do a tremendous job helping patients in rural and remote areas experiencing mental health concerns, including via FPS consults,’ he said.
‘By “decoupling” the FPS consult items, which is mental health care provided by a GP, from
Better Access care delivered by a psychologist, we can afford patients 20 Medicare-subsidised mental health care consults a year, double the current figure.
‘This would have a particularly profound impact in rural and remote areas.’
More broadly, Associate Professor Clements calls on ‘all levels of government’ to step up efforts to secure the future of the GP workforce.
‘The Federal Government can also help address acute shortages of GPs in the bush by investing in the Fellowship Support Program and Practice Experience Program – Specialist to better support international medical graduates, who are particularly important for patients in rural and remote communities.
‘We’ll also continue urging state and local governments to work together and offer incentives such as housing, childcare, and spousal employment to boost the attractiveness of working as a GP in a rural or remote area and make the transition that much easier.’
Meanwhile, Dr Wright said boosting patient rebates for longer consultations would allow GPs to ‘take the time needed to deliver the highest quality of care’.
‘Complex consults, including for mental health concerns, can’t be rushed,’ he said.
‘The problem is that Medicare is structured in a way that encourages “six-minute medicine”, and this must change.’
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