If you qualify for the Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative, you will be able to receive a Medicare rebate on on selected mental health services.

Your GP can also refer you to psychological services through the local Primary Health Networks. These have funding to provide services to populations in their area deemed to be at high risk or have poor access to mental health support. Ask your GP if you can access these services.

Who can use the Better Access program?

You can use Better Access if your doctor says you are eligible. As a first step, you must have been diagnosed with a mental health condition such as bipolar disorder, depression, psychosis or anxiety.

You will also usually need a mental health care plan from your doctor.

If you have a mental illness, your doctor might refer you to Better Access as a way of improving your treatment at a lower cost to you. The practitioner you are referred to may accept the rebate as the payment, or you may have to pay more than the rebate and then claim the rebate back from Medicare.

People using the Better Access program can have 6 individual and 6 group treatment sessions provided by a GP, psychiatrist, psychologist and eligible social workers and occupational therapists. Your doctor can then refer you for another 4 treatment sessions if they think it will help.

Under Better Access, you can claim for up to 10 individual and 10 group services each calendar year. Services can be face to face or telehealth consultations.

If you and your doctor thinks it will help, you can get treatment under Better Access again next year.

How do I start?

The first step is to see your doctor. If you can’t see your doctor, any health service should be able to help.

Search for mental health services in your location.

Other mental health services

If you have concerns about your mental illness, you can also contact one of the free counselling services such as:

• Lifeline (anyone having a personal crisis) — call 13 11 14 or chat online
• Kids Helpline (24/7 phone and online chat for young people aged 5-25 years) — call 1800 55 1800
• Suicide Call Back Service (anyone thinking about suicide) — call 1300 659 467