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\n Almost 40% of Australians aged 16\u201324 live with a mental health disorder.
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\n News<\/p>\n
\n The rate of patients skipping care due to cost has doubled in four years, as GPs \u2018over-function to compensate for a fragmented and broken system\u2019.
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\n Almost 40% of Australians aged 16\u201324 live with a mental health disorder.
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\u2018The Commission has an important monitoring and reporting role. The report card calls out issues for governments to pay attention to, and that\u2019s the value of this report.\u2019
newsGP weekly poll
\n More than 20% of Australians delayed or did not see any mental health professional due to cost last year \u2013 almost double the rate just four years ago.
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\nThat is according to an alarming new report from the National Mental Health Commission, which aims to \u2018take the pulse of Australia\u2019s mental health system\u2019 by measuring its successes and shortfalls.
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\nReleased on Thursday, the 2024 National Report Card<\/a> reveals that mental health treatment rates are falling well below current targets, exacerbated by a spiralling cost-of-living crisis.
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\n\u2018Financially stressed people are cutting corners everywhere to survive so it\u2019s no surprise that they avoid or reduce GP visits,\u2019 said Dr Cathy Andronis, Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Psychological Medicine.
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\n\u2018Government freezes and inadequate Medicare Benefits Schedule rebates have severely limited GP capacity to bulk bill vulnerable patients, and this creates moral distress for GPs at times.
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\n\u2018And when we over-function to compensate for a fragmented and broken system, we risk burnout and the associated loss of efficacy, exhaustion and stress.\u2019
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\nThe report card reveals GPs continue to be the predominant providers of mental health care in Australia, with patient rates highest for GPs by a significant margin when compared to other healthcare professions.
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\nIt found almost 40% of Australians aged 16\u201324 now has a mental health disorder, and 45.1% of people with a 12-month mental disorder see a health professional for their mental health.
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\nSigns of financial stress have also spiked significantly \u2013 up from 17.1% in 2020 to 34.6% in 2024, with women consistently reporting more financial stress compared to men.
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\nIn 2023\u201324, 10% of people in Australia received Medicare-subsidised mental health-specific services \u2013 an increase of 14.8% since 2014\u201315 and equivalent to 467 services per 1000 population.
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\nThe analysis found that last year, the majority (84%) of all mental health-related prescriptions dispensed were issued by GPs, with antidepressants the most dispensed medication.
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\nDr Andronis told newsGP this \u2018vicious cycle\u2019 presents as a common undercurrent in mental health conditions GPs see in their practice.\u00a0
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\n\u2018It is not only the spiralling costs of goods and services, but the sense that people are feeling out of control and losing the autonomy to make important decisions about how they want or need to live,\u2019 she said.
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\n\u2018Because so much of modern life is based on a capacity to pay, people\u2019s choices have become limited, and this causes people to feel hopeless and helpless, key features of mental distress.
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\n\u2018Social isolation results because people are too busy \u2013 their capacity to reach out and give and receive support and comfort from others can seem overwhelming when exhausted.\u2019
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\nHowever, the report said there are knowledge gaps when it comes to measuring continuity of care, with the data currently available focused on those receiving care from public hospitals.
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\n\u2018We know people access mental health care in a range of settings outside of public hospitals, including GPs and private practices,\u2019 the report said.
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\n\u2018As such, overall, we know relatively little about the extent to which the system as a whole provides uninterrupted care across programs and providers.\u2019
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\nCommission CEO David McGrath said it is vital that funding for mental health support and treatment meets the needs of the community.
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\nHe said greater integration among health services and other services, such as housing and financial supports, is now needed.
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\n\u2018Ultimately, everyone deserves fair access to the right mental health care, no matter where they live or how complex the system may be,\u2019 Mr McGrath said.<\/p>\n
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\nFor GPs, Dr Andronis said doctors need to discuss the social determinants of mental health as standard practice during consultations as a \u2018destigmatising strategy\u2019.
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\n\u2018Patients frequently blame themselves for problems out of their control and we need to counter these false assumptions,\u2019 she said.
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\n\u2018Often the truth can set people free.\u2019
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\nMoving forward, the Commission said it will continue to build on the report card with key stakeholders and the sector.
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\nLog in below to join the conversation.
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\n Medicare<\/a> mental health<\/a> National Mental Health Commission<\/a>
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\n New research reveals a drop in vaping rates among Australian teens over the last year, have you seen this reflected in your general practice consults?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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