Why Aussies can’t afford mental healthcare

One in two Australians say the rising cost of living is having a major impact on their mental health, as the nation’s suicide rate is on the rise.

The rising cost of living is driving a surge in mental health problems at the same time as it is making it harder for people to afford treatment, a major national survey has found.

One in two Australians say the rising cost of living is having a major impact on their mental health, and one in five say cost is a barrier to accessing mental health support, according to an IPSOS survey for Mental Health Australia.

As the nation’s suicide rate is on the rise, tech entrepreneur and the chair of Mental Health Australia Matt Berriman is calling for the government to make mental health a priority.

With the Australian Psychological Society reporting 3-6 month waits to see a psychologist, he said it was essential the government fund more early intervention programs and train more workers to overcome staff shortages in the sector.

“With 1 in 5 of us impacted by a mental health condition each year, why is mental health not a national priority and getting the attention of our Prime Minister?” he will ask in a major speech in Canberra today.

Mr Berriman who has bipolar disorder and nearly lost his life to mental ill-health said the destruction to families and friends in the wake of suicide is devastating.

Mental Health Australia Chair Matt Berriman is calling on the government to make mental health a priority. Picture: Supplied

The Productivity Commission estimated in 2020 that one million Australians were missing out on access to mental health services.

Medicare rebates have not kept up with psychology fees and now cover less than half the $300 average charge for a psychology session making help unaffordable for many people even if they can find a provider able to take new patients.

And mental health is now the top reason Aussies are going to hospital.

Mental Health Australia CEO Caroline Nikoloski said the federal Health Department had completed mental health workforce strategy but it was sitting on a shelf and the government had failed to release it.

The lobby group will outline a five point action plan it wants the government to urgently adopt.

It includes easing the cost of living crisis to reduce pressure on people and making mental health care more affordable.

It wants the Government to develop and fund a mental health reform road map co-designed with people with lived experience, their family and carers, and the mental health sector that is backed by outcomes data and strong accountability mechanisms.

Ensuring all people around Australia can get early intervention support for their mental health by increasing access to digital mental health supports was critical, the organisation said.

Governments had to fund psychosocial services outside the NDIS and build up the number of people working in the mental health workforce, the organisation said.

The plea for action will be made ahead of RUOK Day where Australians are reminded that every day is the day to ask, ‘are you OK?’ and start a meaningful conversation whenever they spot the signs that someone they care about might be struggling with life.

RUOK Day provides a “special opportunity for our members to advocate for ongoing reform and communicate to our elected officials about how imperative it is to fund a long-term mental health reform road map, so collectively we can change the trajectory of Australia’s mental health”, Ms Nikoloski said.

Originally published as Why Aussies can’t afford mental healthcare