Dr Corey Lane says regional clinicians need change to combat mental health crisis

As Queensland regions struggle with a rampant mental health crisis made worse by a lack of services, a Whitsundays psychologist has called on the government to stop a mass exodus of staff.

A psychologist is calling code red on the mental health crisis in North Queensland as he readies for a mass exodus of provisional and in-training psychologists from the region.

Dr Corey ‘CJ’ Lane runs the biggest private practice psychology clinic in the Whitsundays.

He said by the end of their training in 2024, he will be forced to go solo as four of his clinicians intend to move back to the cities.

The passionate psychologist said it was a struggle to retain clinicians, with his situation reflective of a universal rebate system disadvantaging regional psychologists and the communities they served.

Psychologist Dr Corey Lane said mental health services needed "a tiered system that is commensurate" with regional need. Photo: Contributed

“It’s well established that there is a crisis in regional and rural areas with regard to mental health problems and the lack of available services,” Dr Lane said.

“Despite the huge need here, we do not have a tiered system that is commensurate with that need.

“(For example,) my clients here get the same Medicare rebate as if they were living in Brisbane.

“If (psychologists) are going to come to the Whitsundays, there needs to be an attractant to bringing them here.”

STAFF SET TO WALK AWAY

His clinic, Adaptive Strategies, has four provisional or in-training psychological staff, yet all intend to move away from the Whitsundays by 2024.

Dr Lane said it was clear that to address high needs in regional areas, structural change is necessary to incentivise clinicians to come and stay.

That change could range from a tiered rebate system rewarding those working in areas of high psychosocial need, HECS debt reductions, or even scholarships.

Dr Lane said he was speaking out over his concern for people going without care due to long waitlists in regional areas.

He estimated Adaptive Strategies provided psychological help to over 1000 Whitsundays residents since 2020.

Adaptive Strategies has four provisional or in-training psychological staff, yet all intend to move away. Picture: Supplied

Dr Lane said he was speaking out over his concern for people going without care due to long waitlists in regional areas.

He estimated Adaptive Strategies provided psychological help to over 1000 Whitsundays residents since 2020.

If he is unable to find more clinicians and goes solo, about 264 residents per year could go without the help they need.

NUMBER OF FREE SESSIONS CUT FROM 20 TO 10

The MBS Better Access initiative of 10 free counselling sessions was expanded to 20 during the Covid pandemic and returned to 10 in December 2022.

“That’s a big problem … especially for people in rural and regional areas that are high need (or) have more severe conditions,” Dr Lane said.

“So if we‘re talking solutions … the maximum allowable rebate sessions needs to be returned to 20.”

An evaluation of the Better Access scheme concluded that workforce distribution issues contributed to “relatively poorer access for consumers in rural areas”.

Recommendation 3 of the evaluation said “broad measures to recruit and retain providers” would be necessary to combat scarcity in rural and remote areas

A Department of Health and Aged Care spokesperson said the evaluation‘s findings “greatly concern the Government”.

“The Government’s goal is to develop a more equitable Better Access initiative and mental health system – one based on evidence – where no one is left behind,” the spokesperson said.

A Whitsunday psychologist says regional Australians need change to better address mental health.

“(A) $586.9 million investment in mental health and suicide prevention in the 2023-24 budget lays the groundwork for further reform in response to the Better Access evaluation.

“People in urgent need of support can also contact a range of Government-funded digital services providing 24/hr access to free online and phone based support (at) www.headtohealth.gov.au.”

Dr Lane initially said the federal government’s 2023-2024 budget outlined plans that were “encouraging for psychologists”, but concluded they “do not go far enough”.

“Regional and remote mental health is clearly not a priority for the government,” Dr Lane said.

“Despite their claims, regional PRIVATE psychology services do not qualify for staff attraction or client concession incentives.

“The Better Access Review didn‘t show extra subsidised sessions caused incessant access delays, expansive new training funding is bogus given the 2022 retirement of a former training pathway, (and) private service reductions will further strain the public system.”

Originally published as Dr Corey Lane says regional clinicians need change to combat mental health crisis