Lived Experience Forum

[Former-Member]

Need to bounce off some ideas re getting Mental Health support on a budget. I forgot the cost involved in seeing my Dr for a be Mental Health Care Plan on the same day as seeing my psychologist this Thursday. Just realised I need $260 in hand to pay and the wait for the rebates which have taken weeks to come through. Reality is I don't have the money, really need to see my psychologist but can't without the care plan - seeing GP first (who has been on holidays this past month), I have to cancel one, obviously the psych and she's booked out a month ahead. I'm pissed off I can't get help without large outlays of money, which frankly doesn't seem worth it in terms of 'value for money' I have been struggling badly since my birthday, 2wks ago, seems I'm always settling for the forums or lifeline instead of face-to-face when I really need it. And doctors, they are money hungry. Might have to find a new doctor, but she has my psychs review req. All this just gets cloudy in my head. I don't know what to do. Really do need to cancel today if not going. Rang medical centre to see if my GP could bulk bill to get the CarePlan and they said no - the best the Dr might offer (if I ask, decided at consult) is maybe shell let me pay the gap of $50 but no guarantee. I have to have available up front $141 for a Mental Health Care Plan Renewal. The psychologist needs $125 up front. I simply don't have it. Why is there nowhere else yo go for MH support than this? Emergency don't want us going there unless its life threatening. Feeling like a burden here, can't think bit through, what to do apart from my usual - just give up, cancel them. Have to travel 50k to get there too. Such a pain. Any ideas to help me juggle this properly. My brain. Grr

[BlueBay]

Hi @Former-Member
I totally get you. I'm sick of making appts to them get cancelled. I pay $185 fior my psych and $140 for my psychologist. Thank god my doctor bulk bills me.
I need more sessions than one a month. It's too long in between. So like you I'll be relying on here and lifeline. Just got s phone call my psychologist has cancelled next weeks session and can't see someone else until may. How tbd hell am I meant to cope?
Sorry @Former-Member for my rant.
I do feel for you. Hugs BB ❤❤

[Former-Member]

Rant all you like @BlueBay, iits good to know I'm not alone. Not good they just rang and cancelled. I'm not upset anymore by this complicated unfair costly MHC system, just tired, slipping into 'just can't door it anymore' mode, leave it for the resourceful. How on earth do those with Complex Mental Health manage? I have a church friend with severe bipolar, her anxiety is so high the slightest change causes distress. I don't know what to say. Why are doctors so highly paid anyway? Especially specialists? Must be the training & overheads. Crazy system. I better go cancel my apts,tough it out alone, walk more or something, perhaps a spiritual fast, stay away from triggers, grr At least active SI is down. Oops, just realised I missed morning pills. Time for cuppa. Thanks BlueBay, at least we got the forums xox

[Former-Member]

Some practial tiips:

- if you are on a low income, apply for a health care card - this allows some doctors to bulk bill you (but most won't) and also results in a decrese in your medicare safety net balance. 
- Once your medicare safety net threshold is reached (~$700 out of pocket for pensioners) you get around 80% of your doctors bills back as medicare rebate. 
- Most GPs I know bulk bill mental health care plan appointments, in fact it's the only thing they do bulk bill. I'd consider seeing a different doc if I were you. 
- If you live near a university, see if they have a psychology clinic where students see patients. Not suitable for a lot of people, but might be a good option. 
- there is a public system for seeing a psychiatrist if you need it.(It sucks though!)

And I totally get the need to vent - I'm 30 and I spend around 35% of my income on mental health care and all my friends are buying houses and going overseas. Not fair!!

[Change123]

Hi @Former-Member

I think changing your Gp is a good one, to me if they arent offering you bulk billing for mental health services then there is something wrong.  I dont know what state you are in but I am in SA and here there is a clinic you can goto thats bulk billed.  Thats how I got my pysch assessment for my meds.  I had to go on a waiting list but that was only 2 weeks.  My GP always tends to bulk bill things related to mental health - I would definitely try other GP's.

[Former-Member]

Hi @Former-Member 

That sounds really hard 😞 Lots depends so much on $'s 😞 I wil struggle again soon when my 10 sessions with psych have run out. Son's appointments are double cost of mine as well and OT on top of that, it's impossible sometimes! And there is really no other options.. either you're able to afford help or not. It's frustrating and very sad. I hope that things work out for you,

lj