Mental Health Care Plans

A mental health care plan is a plan your doctor writes with you about treating a mental health condition. It helps you to access eligible allied health professionals like psychologists, social workers or occupational therapists who can help you to get better and live well.

A mental health care plan can be useful for people with minor mental health conditions or very serious conditions, short-term concerns or long-term illnesses. You don't already have to be diagnosed with a mental health condition to talk to your doctor about making a mental health care plan.

Creating a mental health care plan gives you and your doctor the opportunity to formally outline how you have been feeling, what your needs are and what results you would like. It also gives your doctor an opportunity to refer you on to an appropriate treatment or support service.

Having a mental health care plan makes appointments with eligible allied health professionals more affordable. If you have a mental health care plan, you are entitled to a Medicare rebate on up to 20 individual sessions or group appointments with a psychologist, social worker or occupational therapist in a calendar year. To start with, your doctor will refer you for up to 6 sessions at a time. If you need more, they can refer you for further sessions.

A mental health care plan needs to be created by your doctor. Cassia Medical GPs can create a mental health care plan for you. Creating a plan can take a little longer than a normal appointment, so it can help to ask for a longer or double appointment when you make your booking.

Signs that your mental health may require attention, include but are not limited to:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Emotional outbursts
• Sleep problems
• Weight or appetite changes
• Substance abuse
• Feeling guilty or worthless
• Changes in behaviour or feelings