What are mental health professionals?

There are many types of health professionals working in mental healthcare. Your doctor or GP is usually the first point of contact if you need help with your mental health. GPs can:

• diagnose and treat some mental health conditions
• refer you to other mental health professionals
• create a mental health treatment plan for you

There are other health professionals who work in mental healthcare:

• Psychiatrists — medical doctors with specialised training in mental health. They can diagnose and treat mental illness using psychotherapy (talking therapies) and may prescribe medicines.
• Mental health nurses — nurses with a specialist qualification in mental health who help people work towards recovery.
• Psychologists — mental health specialists who provide care using psychotherapy and other structured psychological approaches, but are not medical doctors and can't prescribe medicines.
• Counsellors — therapists who help you talk through challenges in your life and provide support to help you find solutions and learn problem-solving skills.
• Occupational therapists (OTs) — allied health professionals who help people be more independent, develop coping strategies and build skills for daily life.
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander mental health workers — mental health workers who deliver care in a culturally appropriate way and may also provide cultural education to people outside the community.
• Social workers — health professionals trained to support mental health in a practical way by providing counselling, advocacy and support, as well as help with social factors such as housing, employment and relationships.

Most mental health professionals study and train for many years.

Depending on your needs, you may need to see one or more mental health professionals to get the right support.

What do mental health professionals do?

Mental health professionals have different skills to help you, including:

• assessing and, in some cases, diagnosing mental health conditions
• treating mental health problems using different types of psychotherapy and counselling
• prescribing medicines (by some professionals)
• educating you about your condition and helping you learn skills to improve your quality of life.
• organising care and support services for people with complex mental health needs and their families

Different mental health professionals may have varying specialties or approaches.

When do I see a mental health professional?

You can choose to see a mental health professional at any point in your life. If you have something that is affecting your mental health, a mental health professional can help you.

People of any age can see a mental health professional. Some professionals focus on helping people throughout their life span. You may also see a mental health professional in different situations, such as at school, during a hospital stay, or for support with loss or palliative care.

Depending on your needs and goals, you may see a mental health professional for a short time or may want ongoing support.

What should I expect during an appointment with a mental health professional?

At your first appointment, they will want to know what is concerning you. They will ask how it is affecting you. They want to know why you decided to visit them. They will also ask about your medical history and other parts of your life.

They may ask questions relating to the reason for your appointment such as:

• why you have made an appointment
• what you hope to achieve
• if you or anyone in your family has a history of mental illness such as depression
• if you have had any previous mental health issues

They will also try to understand your mental health by asking questions about:

• your relationship with your family and friends
• your stress levels and any specific stressful events in your past
• your feelings about your job, school and relationships
• if you use drugs and how much alcohol you drink
• the risk of you harming yourself or others
• any other health conditions you may have, or had in the past

At the end of your first visit, your health professional may:

• make a diagnosis (by some professionals)
• develop a management plan for the treatment of your mental health problem
• suggest you see another type of health professional or someone who specialises in a particular area

What questions should I ask a mental health professional?

When meeting a mental health professional for the first time, you should feel comfortable asking any questions or sharing concerns.

You may want to ask them questions:

• What can I expect from our appointments?
• What sort of experience do you have?
• How many sessions do you expect we will have?
• What is the goal of our time together?
• Will my family or friends be involved in our sessions at any point?

Sometimes it can be hard to talk about your mental health. Your sessions with a mental health professional are a safe and confidential place. You can ask anything that comes to your mind. You can also decide what information you don't feel comfortable sharing.

Don't worry if you don't have any questions prepared — your mental health professional will guide you through the process.

How do I find a mental health professional?

If you're searching for help with a mental health problem, try talking to your doctor (also known as a general practitioner or GP) first.

They can also:

• assess you
• help you build a mental health treatment plan
• refer you to another health professional if needed

They will be able to suggest the best type of mental health professional to help you.

Depending on their training and experience, your doctor may also be able to treat you themselves.

If you live in a rural or remote area, you may not have access to all the different types of mental health professionals. Talk to your doctor about whether online programs or therapies might help you. There are many online mental health resources that include support from a mental health specialist.

How do I choose a mental health professional?

You may have to meet a few mental health professionals before you find the right person for you. Even within the same profession, different people may have different skills, focus areas and styles.

One important factor in treatment is your relationship with your mental health professional. When choosing a health professional, you can ask yourself these questions:

• What problems can they help me with?
• What results can I expect?
• What qualifications do they have?
• How much will treatment cost?
• Do I need a referral?
• How often will I need appointments?
• Are appointments available on days or at times that work for me?

Most types of health professionals must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). You can check whether a health professional requires registration and if they are registered. A complaint about a health professional can be made through the AHPRA website.

Counsellors and psychotherapists must complete training to practise in Australia. Professional bodies in Australia check that members are trained and have the right skills to support mental health. These include the:

• Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia
• Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists
• Australian Counselling Association

You can find a mental health professional in your local area on these and other websites.

What if I need to change my mental health professional?

There are many reasons why you might want to change your mental health professional, such as:

• you are not making the progress you hoped for
• problems with availability (for example, travel is difficult or appointment times don't suit)
• you don't feel comfortable with them, or you feel that they don't understand you

It's a good idea to first talk to the person you're seeing. If the time or place is a problem, they may be able to change appointment times or offer a different location. They may also be able to provide telehealth services.

If you decide to change, you can ask for your medical notes to be transferred to your new health professional. This can help your new health professional understand you and make the change easier.

Don't be put off if the first person you try doesn't work out. It's worth persevering so you can get the right support.

Do I need a referral to see a mental health professional?

You need a referral from your doctor to see some health professionals, such as psychiatrists. You also need a referral and mental health treatment plan from your doctor for your sessions to be covered by Medicare.

What is the cost?

The cost of seeing a health professional depends on the type of health professional you see. Medicare may cover some or all of the costs for mental health services.

If you have a diagnosed mental illness, your doctor can provide you with a mental health treatment plan. This provides a Medicare rebate for up to 10 individual sessions and 10 group sessions a year with some mental health specialists.

If a doctor or psychologist bulk bills, Medicare will cover the cost of the appointment.

Otherwise, there will be a gap fee that you will have to pay. Ask about fees when you book your appointment.

Find out more about the costs of mental health services.

Will my information be kept confidential?

Most conversations with a mental health professional are confidential and protected by law in Australia, unless:

• you are at risk of harm
• there is a risk you may harm others
• they involve a serious crime, such as murder, drug-dealing or sexual assault

If you are concerned about confidentiality, ask your mental health professional at the start of your appointment.

Resources and support

If you want further information about mental health professionals and how to find someone suitable for you and your situation, speak with your doctor.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

healthdirect also offers a comprehensive directory of mental health resources.

Are you having a tough time and you need to talk to someone? The helplines and services below are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Lifeline — for anyone having a personal crisis, call 13 11 14 or chat online.
• Suicide Call Back Service — for anyone thinking about suicide, call 1300 659 467.
• MensLine Australia — a free telephone and online counselling service, call 1300 78 99 78.
• Kids Helpline — free confidential online and phone counselling services for young people aged 5 to 25 years, call 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
• Medicare Mental Health — for advice and to get connected to local mental health services, call 1800 595 212. Check the operating times.

The following organisations provide resources and support:

• ReachOut has information on types of mental health professionals, confidentiality and tips on choosing the right mental health professional.
• Beyond Blue has resources to find a mental health professional and what they do. You can also call their hotline on 1300 22 4636 or chat online if you are feeling depressed or anxious.
• Medicare Mental Health has information on preparing for your first appointment.
• SANE Australia — access SANE's range of free mental health supports at sane.org/get-support.
• The Australian Government has a factsheet on the roles of different mental health professionals.
• headspace — online, in-person and phone support for people aged 12 to 25.

These fact sheets explain mental health services in a clear and simple way:

• Medicare Mental Health also has a fact sheet about Medicare Mental Health Centres in easy read format.
• NSW Health has a fact sheet called 'People who can help me with my mental health' in easy read format.

Languages other than English

Embrace Multicultural Mental Health has services and information available.

THIS WAY UP has translated resources on mental health topics.

The Transcultural Mental Health Centre has translated mental health resources in over 40 languages.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

Beyond Blue has helpful contacts for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

13YARN — for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples in crisis and need support — call 13 92 76.

Brother to Brother Dardi Munwurro is a crisis line for men — call 1800 435 799.

WellMob has online resources to support mental health.

Visit a National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) for culturally safe support — find one near you.