Navigating Mental Health Care Plans
Hypothetical scenario
Footballer- I’ve been feeling pretty shit recently and I don’t know what to do.
Coach- What’s been going on? Is there anything I can do to help?
Footballer- Nah. It’s just work and a few other things.
Coach- Happy to lend an ear if you want to chat. If you’ve been feeling like this for a while have you considered speaking to your GP (General Practitioner)? They might complete a mental health care plan with you?
Footballer- What’s that?
Mental Health care plans can make a massive impact to your wellbeing. A mental health care plan can help you to:
Identify early warning signs.
Identify support needs.
Work through your challenges.
Develop your support networks. Think of a health wolf pack, crew or team.
Improve relationships.
What is a mental health care plan?
A mental health care plan is a support plan for someone who is experiencing mental health challenges. You can access a mental health care plan through your Local GP. The GP will ask you a series of questions. These questions are usually as follows:
Problems you’re experiencing.
Social History.
Family history of mental illness.
Relevant physical and mental examination. Behaviour, mood, thinking, perception, insight, speech, anxiety symptoms, appetite, sleep, judgement, motivation, energy and more.
Risk assessment. Do you have suicidal ideation or suicide intent. Risk to others.
Family/Key Supports.
Problem/Diagnosis- Goals- Action/Tasks.
Action Plan.
Patient consent.
What might a mental health care plan include:
A referral to an expert, like a psychologist, social worker or psychiatrist.
The types of mental health care that can support you.
Strategies to improve and maintain your mental health and wellbeing.
If you obtain a mental health care plan through your Local GP, the Government will subsidise the cost of up to 10 sessions with a mental health expert in a calendar year. You can get that through the Medicare rebate.
What is the Mental Health Care Plan process
First, book an appointment with your GP. If you don’t have a regular GP, you can locate one here. When you book, tell them you want to talk about a mental health care plan. The GP will set enough time to go through the above questions.
Your doctor will ask you to fill out a questionnaire or ask you the questions above.
A lot of GPs will ask you to come back for another appointment before they decide whether a mental health care plan is the right thing for you.
In some situations, your GP might refer you to a psychiatrist or a psychologist. What’s the difference between a psychiatrist and psychologist? You can find that out here.
Alright, I’ve been to the GP. What support can I get?
Well, you will have access to someone or a network of professionals to help you find strategies to navigate your challenges. Most common types of support you may be able to get with a mental health care plan include:
1 to 1 session with a psychologist, psychiatrist, or social worker.
Group psychologist sessions
Your doctor can/should provide you with a list of professional experts in your area. If you have a mental health care plan, the Medicare rebate mentioned earlier covers you for a certain amount of the value of your session. However, if your psychologist charges more, you’ll need to pay the difference. If you are a concession holder, student or have a health care card then you may be eligible for cheaper sessions with your psychologist.
It’s important to note that you can’t get a referral for all 10 sessions for the year in one go. Your plan will cover you for six initial sessions. Once they have concluded or are coming to an end, you can go back to your doctor for a review. You and your GP will review your plan and they will determine if it would be helpful to have further sessions.
Your doctor should tell you what costs (if any) are involved when you agree to make a mental health treatment plan. If you are unsure, ask your doctor what fees will be involved.
What should I do before my GP appointment?
Before your GP appointment I highly recommend the following:
Journal/ Captains Log/ Self-Assess- Day, Time and what you’ve experienced. What may have triggered these feelings, thoughts, and emotions.
Develop a list of what areas you would like help or support with. Social, emotional, physical, and mental.
Providing the above to your GP will help them guide their questions.
Support without the wait time
The following practices don’t have an astronomical (2-6 months) wait time and they provide a range of support depending on your needs. These practices are listed below.
Melbourne & Daylesford- Centre Self Collective.
North Queensland- Active Health Psychology
Southeast Queensland- Hey Mate Project
Southeast Queensland- Healthy Habits & Education
Whilst the scenario at the beginning is hypothetical. To have a more professionalised approach with a range of resources and tools up your sleeve, please consider Mental Health First Aid training. You can book this through the following link right….here.
