Talking to your doctor (GP) about mental health

If you need to talk to someone about your mental health, call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

Key facts

If you need help with your mental health, talking to your doctor (GP) is a good place to start.
If you don't have a regular doctor, your local community mental health centre can suggest a doctor with mental health experience.
Your doctor can assess you and provide treatment or refer you to other mental health professionals, depending on your needs.
It can be hard to talk about your mental health, but it can help you get the best treatment for you.
It's important to find a doctor you feel comfortable with — it can help to prepare a list of questions for your doctor.

Who can I talk to about mental health?

Many health professionals can help you with your mental health. Your doctor (GP) is often a good place to start for most mental health conditions.

A doctor who helps you with mental health should be able to:

assess your mental health
provide you with support and treatment
organise ongoing care and refer you to other mental health professionals

It is important to talk to a doctor if you feel you are struggling with your mental health.

How do I find a GP to talk to about mental health?

If you don't have a regular doctor, you can ask family and friends for recommendations. But, not every GP will have a mental health focus. Your local community mental health centre can suggest doctors in your area who have experience with mental health.

If you already have a regular doctor, ask them about their qualifications. You can ask them if they have experience in mental health. If your doctor does not have an interest or skills in mental health, they can suggest another doctor for you.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

How do I know if my GP is right for my mental health?

Ask yourself if you feel comfortable talking to your doctor about how you feel. If you don't feel comfortable, try seeing a different doctor. The easier it is to speak with your doctor, the more benefit you will get from your visit.

It is normal to be nervous or embarrassed about a mental health appointment.

It can help to choose a clinic that has:

friendly staff
clear contact information
the option for a long consultation
the option for a follow-up appointment
the option for both remote and face-to-face appointments

How do I start a conversation about mental health with my GP?

It is important to be honest with your doctor about your feelings and behaviour. This way, they can give you the best care.

You can tell your doctor about:

your thoughts and feelings and how they have changed
any physical and mental symptoms you may have
how your feelings are affecting your life
experiences in your life that may have impacted your mental health

You can also share any concerns you may have about the appointment. For example, your doctor can speak with you about privacy. You can ask them about confidentiality. Most GPs will only share what you tell them if your safety or the safety of others is at risk.

It's a good idea to book a long appointment so you don't feel rushed.

Talking about your mental health can be hard. You can ask your doctor about bringing a family member or friend along for support.

What questions will my doctor ask me?

Mental health assessments often take more than one visit. Your doctor will need to get to know you so they can give you the best support. They may ask questions about your:

lifestyle choices
physical health and any treatment you are having
financial circumstances
cultural background
work or school environment
family history of physical and mental illness
psychological or emotional experiences

Tell your doctor if you have any preferences for your treatment.

Your doctor will be able to assess whether a mental health treatment plan is right for you. This plan will record your:

goals for treatment
treatment options
referrals
progress, as you move through care

Your doctor may also refer you to other health care professionals for further treatment or a clearer diagnosis.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

One way to get the most out of your visit is by asking questions. Writing a list of questions before the visit can help.

Here are some questions you may want to ask.

What is my diagnosis?
What are my treatment options?
Should I see another mental health professional?
When might I feel better?
What should I do if I need help urgently?

If they suggest medication, ask about common side effects and how long they might last.

If there is something you do not understand, do not be afraid to speak up. Ask your doctor to explain it again.

You can also ask your doctor about online programs and resources that help you to take care of yourself.

Preparing for an appointment? See our tips on questions to ask your doctor.

How much will it cost?

Your doctor can also refer you to other mental health professionals such as:

Medicare rebates are available for people who have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder and have a mental health treatment plan. These rebates include up to 10 individual and 10 group therapy sessions per year.

Resources and support

You can visit the Black Dog Institute (Opens in new tab) website for more information on finding a mental health friendly doctor (Opens in new tab) and what to expect from your appointment (Opens in new tab).

If you need to talk to someone about your mental health, call Beyond Blue (Opens in new tab) on 1300 22 4636. You can also find a mental health professional (Opens in new tab) on the Beyond Blue website.

For advice and to get connected to local mental health services, call Medicare Mental Health (Opens in new tab) on 1800 595 212.

If you are a young person, visit ReachOut (Opens in new tab) or headspace (Opens in new tab) for information and support.

If you are an older person, call My Aged Care (Opens in new tab) on 1800 200 422 and ask about mental health support.

Languages other than English

Visit Embrace Multicultural Mental Health (Opens in new tab) for support and resources in a range of languages.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

Call 13YARN (13 92 76) or visit WellMob (Opens in new tab) for help.

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.