Mental Health

There are a variety of pathways for patients who need access to mental health services. Services are available through North West Area Mental Health Service, Primary Mental Health Teams, Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation and Support Services, and Community Health Services.

In recognition of increasing rate of mental illness and the vital role of general practitioners in the diagnosis and treatment of high prevalence disorders such as depression, the Commonwealth Government funds a number of other services.
To access these programs, the starting point is the GP’s Mental Health Care Plan.

Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)

Medicare rebates are available to GPs to provide early intervention, assessment and management of patients with mental disorders, as part of a GP Mental Health Care Plan.

A GP Mental Health Consultation item is available for general practitioners to provide continuing management of patients with mental disorders. A Review of GP Mental Health Care Plan item is also available.
Links to relevant sites and the Mental Health Care Plan template are under Mental Health on the Links Page. 

Better Outcomes in Mental Health: Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS)

GPs can refer patients to impetus™ to receive psychological services provided by registered clinical psychologists using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The Department of Health and Ageing funds this program. GPs can refer patients who are being managed under a mental health care plan for 6 sessions of psychological services with up to an extra 4 sessions available in exceptional circumstances.

This service is for brief intervention and targeted predominately at low-income patients. There is no cost to the patient. To refer, GPs do not require additional mental health training but impetus™ encourages GPs to attend mental health training.

Access to the program is by completion of a GP Mental Health Care Plan and one page GP Referral Form. The extra 4 sessions is available by completing the Extra Sessions Request Form. All forms can be downloaded from the Mental Health section of the Resources Page.

For further information contact the Allied Health Coordinator by e-mailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it