Key Facts:
- 71% of GPs nominated mental health reasons as a top reason for patient presentations in 2025, up 10% since 2017
- One in five patients over 15 delayed or avoided mental health care due to cost, with women more likely to postpone treatment
- 57% of GPs identified mental health as an issue causing concern for the future and want to see action from government
- The RACGP is calling for a 40% increase in Medicare rebates for longer consultations and a 25% increase for mental health items to improve access to affordable care
The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) Health of the Nation 2025 report has revealed 71% of GPs nominated mental health reasons as a top reason for patient presentations, up 10% since the survey began in 2017.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said: "GPs play a central role in providing care for people experiencing mental illness and are often the first point of contact.
"We saw a significant increase in mental health appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic and those figures have stayed high ever since.
"It's clear our patients still need that same level of mental health support, so it's vital to continue investment in general practice care, including increased patient rebates for longer consults. This is particularly important for patients who need mental health support, as well as chronic diseases, which can also put pressure on our mental health.
"The 2025 Health of the Nation report also shows female GPs report a higher proportion of their patients as presenting with psychological concerns.
"Seventy-five per cent of female GPs nominated psychological issues as one of their top three reasons for patient presentations, compared to 66% of male GPs, and 71% overall.
"We know that 43% of the population [around 8.5 million people] have experienced a mental illness during their lifetime, and this report identified anxiety and depression as the most common mental health presentations.
"The report also highlighted a concerning trend: one in five people over 15 years who needed to see a health professional for their mental health delayed or did not attend due to cost.
"Women were more likely to see a GP for their mental health than men [15.9% compared to 9.4%]. However, women were also more likely than men to delay or not see a GP for their mental health when needed because of cost [11.5% compared to 8.1%].
"Fifty-seven percent of GPs identified mental health as an emerging issue causing concern for the future, and GPs want to see more action from our country's leaders.
"Mental health is always complex, and often means talking about a patient's social, physical, and work or education environment as well as their physical health. You can't provide the mental health care patients need in six minutes.
"The RACGP is urging the Government, alongside their valuable investments in Medicare and GP training, to increase patient Medicare rebates for longer consultations by 40% and rebates for mental health items by 25%.
"For some, general practice can be the only point of care when seeking out mental health services, particularly in rural and remote areas.
"Increasing patient rebates to keep pace with the rate of inflation will help ensure everyone, no matter where they live, can access a trusted GP for their mental health issues without facing high out of pocket costs."
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