HILDA report highlights need for increased access to psychologists under Medicare

Yesterday’s release of the 17th wave of Australia's Household, Income and Labour Dynamics Survey (HILDA) shows young people are increasingly seeking help for mental health issues, but Australia’s peak body for psychologists says Medicare is failing to provide adequate access to psychologists to meet treatment needs.

The Australian Psychological Society (APS) says it has long called for access to an increased number of Medicare funded psychology sessions beyond the 10 sessions per year currently available.

In its White Paper: The Future of Psychology in Australia, the APS called for access to up to 20 sessions per year, and 40 sessions for those with high intensity needs.

APS CEO Frances Mirabelli says people need access to the number of sessions which research indicates will achieve effective recovery for their condition. 

“An inadequate number of sessions means treatment may be ineffective and there is increased risk of relapse in the long term,” says Ms Mirabelli.   

She says there are currently cost barriers to people accessing the appropriate ‘dose’ of therapy.  
“People who need more than 10 sessions with a psychologist face out-of-pocket costs when they access additional sessions to get the right dose of therapy.  This is unacceptable.  People should not be penalised for addressing their mental health issues.”

The HILDA report reflects the chronic nature of anxiety and depression, reporting high rates of persistence over four years, which Ms Mirabelli says is further evidence of the need for access to more psychology services. 

Ms Mirabelli says the increase in diagnosis of mental illness is a pleasing reflection of increased help seeking, reduced mental health stigma and community acceptance of mental health treatment.

“It’s particularly encouraging that young people are seeking help.  Intervention earlier in the life span is linked to better long-term outcomes.”Ms Mirabelli says prevention is a high priority for the APS.

“Increasing prevention by starting earlier in the life span is vital and that is why we advocate strongly for psychologists in schools.” 

In its submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health the APS has recommended a ratio of one psychologist to 500 students to address early intervention across the school community.

An article on the HILDA Report in The Conversation today questioned why our mental health isn’t improving when antidepressant use among Australians has been rising for decades.

Ms Mirabelli says this lies in the fact that antidepressants are not as effective as psychological therapy, particularly for mild and moderate symptoms of depression.  

“Psychological therapy has also been shown to have more effective longer term outcomes such as reduced relapse rates, reduced visits to emergency departments and prevention of associated physical and mental health problems.”

“The mental health needs of Australians need to be urgently addressed, and providing access to adequate, affordable psychological services through Medicare is a key part of that,” says Ms Mirabelli.

Note to editors:

In June the APS released its White Paper: The Future of Psychology in Australia.  With it, the APS is asking Government to improve MBS-funded psychology services to increase community access to and affordability of psychology services, increase treatment and care options and reduce economic burden for Australians.

Key HILDA Report mental health findings:

• From 2009 and 2017, the main apparent change is a substantial increase in diagnosed depression and anxiety.  
• Between 2009 and 2017, the proportion reporting having this condition rose from 6.1% to 11.1% among males aged 15 to 34, from 8.9% to 13.5% among men aged 35 to 54, and from 8.3% to 11.5% among men aged 55 and over. 
• Among females, the corresponding changes were from 12.8% to 20.1% of females aged 15 to 34, from 13.4% to 19.4% of women aged 35 to 54, and from 11.7% to 16.5% of women aged 55 and over. 
• The highest rates of onset of depression and anxiety were among those aged 15 to 34. 
• Women have somewhat higher reported rates of diagnosed depression or anxiety than men
• Reflecting the chronic nature of anxiety and depression, their rates of persistence over four years are mostly quite high—generally well over 50%.