Mental health advocates have warned a “major detrimental impact” is being felt by Latrobe Valley people suffering depression and anxiety disorders following Medicare cutbacks to counselling support.
The Federal Government’s reduction of access to psychology sessions for patients on a mental health plan several years ago had posed a significant threat to recovery from depressive illnesses and increased the risk of suicide, according to Barrier Breakers chief executive officer Derek Amos.
The widespread impact prompted advocacy group Barrier Breakers to launch an appeal at
www.barrierbreakers.org.au “to save the lives of young people contemplating suicide”, calling on the community to contribute to an emergency relief fund “to assist the most vulnerable”.
Mr Amos said medical professionals had expressed “grave concerns” over the flow-on effect of changes which reduced the number of psychologist consultations which doctors could refer patients to from between 12 and 18 in any one year to between six and 10 sessions. He said a maximum of 10 sessions had proved “grossly inadequate for some patients”and forced some psychologists to reduce or remit fees, placing a “heavy burden” on the professionals.
He said many patients could not work and were on income support, unable to afford “critical counselling sessions.”
“What annoys me is that the Medicare rebate, for example, has not been cutback for cancer sufferers yet these people (with depressive disorders) are at just as much risk of dying,” he said.
Barrier Breakers called on Gippsland’s federal MPs to support their cause and push for the reinstatement of an annual 18 Medicare-covered counselling sessions.
A spokesperson for Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said the MP had already made representations to the relevant federal minister over the issue, on behalf of a constituent, and would do the same for Barrier Breakers.
