How can we increase access to mental health care?

Direct access to mental health specialists is not the solution to improving mental health outcomes

The 2020–21 Australian National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing found that just over one in five Australians had experienced a mental health disorder during the preceding year,1 but just under half these people had consulted a health care professional about mental health.2 Of those who did not report consultations, about 90% did not want information about mental health treatment and services or medication, and almost 80% did not want counselling.3 These findings highlight the challenge of knowing whether we are meeting community mental health needs. Access to Medicare‐subsidised mental health care specialists requires a consultation with a general practitioner to draw up a mental health treatment plan and a referral to a mental health specialist. During 2020–21, general practitioners provided 1 521 443 Medicare‐subsidised mental health treatment plans.4