Skip to content
Medical Health Aged Care

Australians need more support for mental health care: RACGP

Royal Australian College of GPs 2 mins read

The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) is urging the Federal Government to provide more support for Australians needing mental health care, on World Mental Health Day. 

The theme for this year’s World Health Organisation (WHO) World Mental Health Day is “Mental Health at Work". 

RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins said: “GPs are on the frontline of Australia’s mental health crisis, carrying out more mental health consults each year than any other speciality or clinician. 

"It’s the most prominent health issue GPs are helping patients manage, and we all know work can impact mental health.  

“Australians need access to affordable mental health care. That’s why we’re asking the Government to increase patients’ Medicare rebates for GP mental health and longer consults – to reduce out-of-pocket costs for patients.” 

The RACGP’s annual Health of the Nation survey shows a rise in the number of patients seeing GPs with mental health concerns – 71% of GPs reported mental health in their top reasons for patient consults, up from 61% when the survey started in 2017. 

“GPs are very concerned about patients delaying mental health care due to increasing cost of living pressures,” Dr Higgins said. 

“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. 

“GPs from across Australia have told us 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.   

“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.” 

Dr Higgins also said it is crucial for GPs for look after their own mental health as well as that of their patients, with the RACGP’s GP24 conference next month including a workshop for GPs seeking ways to reduce burnout and stress. 

“It's important for GPs to check in with colleagues and their practice team, and to seek support if needed – it’s okay to not be okay,” she said. 

~ENDS


About us:

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is the peak representative organisation for general practice, the backbone of Australia’s health system. We set the standards for general practice, facilitate lifelong learning for GPs, connect the general practice community, and advocate for better health and wellbeing for all Australians.

Visit www.racgp.org.au. To unsubscribe from RACGP media releases, click here.


Contact details:

John Ronan
Media Adviser

Ally Francis
Media Adviser

Stuart Winthrope
Media Officer

Contact: 03 8699 0992media@racgp.org.au

Follow us on Twitter: @RACGP and Facebook.

More from this category

  • Medical Health Aged Care
  • 15/02/2025
  • 06:30
Dementia Australia

Join us today for Huskisson Memory Walk & Jog

What: Dementia Australia’sHuskissonMemory Walk & Jog   When: Today, Saturday 15 February from 8am   Who: More than 230 locals participating on the day. People who have been impacted by dementia, their family, friends and carers.   Where: Voyager Park, Huskisson Photos and video of previous Memory Walk & Jog events for publication are available for use. For more information visit: www.memorywalk.com.au Dementia Australia is the source of trusted information, education and services for the estimated more than 433,300 Australians living with dementia, and the more than 1.7 million people involved in their care. We advocate for positive change and…

  • Contains:
  • Medical Health Aged Care
  • 14/02/2025
  • 17:00
NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS, INC.

NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS Completes Procedure to Make Germany’s SH HoldCo Wholly-owned Subsidiary

TOKYO, Feb. 14, 2025 /Kyodo JBN/ -- - Completion of Acquisition (Subsidiarization) of SH HoldCo GmbH Shares - NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS, INC. is pleased to announce that the agreement concluded on September 30, 2024, for the acquisition of entire shares in SH HoldCo GmbH, the parent company of the Germany-based Simon Hegele Group, was executed with effect from February 3, 2025 ("the Transaction"). NX Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202502063911-O3-3GW0nv63 The founder, Dieter Hegele (left), and the President of NXHD, Satoshi Horikiri: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M103866/202502063911/_prw_PI1fl_Q8fxy492.jpg Headquartered in Karlsruhe, Germany, Simon Hegele is a contract logistics provider founded in 1920 that specializes in providing logistics services for…

  • Medical Health Aged Care
  • 14/02/2025
  • 15:37
Dementia Australia

Last chance to join us for Canberra Memory Walk & Jog!

With only a few sleeps to go, walkers, joggers, runners and volunteers are gearing up to participate in the 2025 Canberra Memory Walk & Jog. More than 1000 people have already signed-up to take part – but there’s always room for more with online registrations still open, or sign-up on the day of the event. Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said it was fantastic to see Canberra locals throwing their support behind Memory Walk & Jog, all while getting active for their brain health. “We look forward to hosting Memory Walk & Jog on Sunday 23 February at Barrine…

  • Contains:

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.