The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has encouraged patients to discuss mental health with people in their lives, including their GP, and urged the Federal Government to provide more support for Australians.
This includes a call from the RACGP to increase patient Medicare rebates for long and complex consultations, one of the draft recommendations of a recent Medicare review that noted the gender inequity effects of current Medicare funding.
The World Health Organization's (WHO's) theme for World Mental Health Day in 2026 is 'Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change', with the WHO calling for policies, services, and decisions to be shaped by engagement with people with lived experience of mental health conditions.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said the day is a reminder for all people to prioritise their mental health.
"Mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and trauma are incredibly common in the community and one of the most common things that as GPs we see every day," he said.
"This year, the theme for the World Mental Health Day is around the importance of lived experience, and that means listening to people who have mental health conditions but also designing services that are important for them."
Mental health is consistently the top reason why patients present to a GP according to the RACGP's annual Health of the Nation report, the 10th edition of which will be published this year.
The RACGP has called on the Federal Government to make patient-centred Medicare reforms and boost funding so patients can more easily access affordable mental health care with their GP.
The college also raised concerns that the removal of Medicare GP mental health care items in November 2025 had significantly limited the visibility of general practice's contribution to mental health care in Australia.
Dr Wright called on the Government to support the review's recommendation to increase Medicare rebates for long and prolonged consultations so patients who need time with their GP for mental health care can do so without higher out-of-pocket costs.
"The theme of this year is around listening to people with lived experience, and we know from talking to patients that the removal of the mental health consultation item has been a real struggle," he said.
"People who see a GP for mental health care should have the time they need. Increasing Medicare rebates for longer consultations is one way to reduce out-of-pocket costs and improve access to the care that they need.
"GPs are the most-accessed and most-accessible mental health professionals in Australia – one in eight people [12.5%] saw a GP for their mental health last year.
"That reflects how important general practice is to Australians' mental health, and why our patients need that care to be appropriately acknowledged by the Government and valued and funded by Medicare."
For Australia's national Mental Health Month in October, Mental Health Australia has encouraged people to start conversations, share their stories, and connect under a theme of 'Together We Thrive'.
Mental Health Australia reports nearly half (47%) of all people say they feel less connected to others than they did 10 years ago.
One in five Gen Zs (20%) say they have no friends or family they can count on when they need support, compared to 13% of Gen X and 8% of Baby Boomers, a sign a growing number of Australians may feel they do not have someone to discuss their challenges with.
The RACGP President said patients should feel comfortable sharing any issue to a GP.
"We are trained as experts across the whole human condition – physical health, mental health, social issues, we're understanding," Dr Wright said.
"If you're worried about your health, particularly your mental health, talk to your GP. Whatever you're going through, your GP is there to listen and help, even if the first step is simply starting a conversation
"Sometimes it seems scarier than it needs to be, but I think you'll find that having that conversation with a GP who knows you and your history is the first step to getting better."
