Mental health support through telehealth
Accessing mental health care can be difficult. Long wait times, limited GP availability, and the effort of attending a clinic when you are already struggling. NewDoc offers bulk billed telehealth consultations with qualified GPs who can help with mental health assessments, medication management, and referrals to psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals.
Your consultation is conducted via video or phone call with an AHPRA-registered GP. The conversation is confidential, conducted from wherever you feel comfortable, and bulk billed for eligible Medicare patients.
What your GP can help with
A GP telehealth consultation for mental health can cover a range of needs. Your doctor can assess your mental health and discuss how you are feeling, review or prescribe medication for conditions such as depression, anxiety, or insomnia, create a referral to a psychologist, psychiatrist, or counsellor, discuss your options for ongoing mental health care, and provide advice on managing stress, sleep, and wellbeing.
If your GP determines that you need ongoing specialist mental health support, they can provide a referral that may entitle you to Medicare-subsidised sessions with a psychologist or other allied health professional.
Mental Health Treatment Plans
Under Medicare, GPs can create Mental Health Treatment Plans (MHTPs) that give you access to up to 10 subsidised sessions with a psychologist or other mental health professional per calendar year. Your NewDoc GP can discuss whether an MHTP is appropriate for your situation during your consultation.
Please note that due to changes in Medicare rules, the availability of Mental Health Treatment Plans via telehealth may depend on your specific circumstances and eligibility. Your GP will advise you on the best pathway during your consultation.
Medication management
If you are already taking medication for a mental health condition, your NewDoc GP can review your current treatment, discuss how it is working for you, and issue a repeat prescription if appropriate. If you are considering starting medication, your GP can discuss the options, benefits, and potential side effects with you.
All prescriptions are issued as eScripts sent directly to your phone. There is no extra charge for prescriptions. They are included in the bulk billed consultation.
What is a Mental Health Care Plan?
A Mental Health Care Plan (also known as a Mental Health Treatment Plan) is a Medicare-supported plan that your GP can create after assessing your mental health. It outlines your treatment goals and the type of support that may help you, such as sessions with a psychologist, counsellor, or other allied health professional. Under current Medicare guidelines, a Mental Health Care Plan may entitle you to up to 10 subsidised sessions per calendar year with an eligible provider.
To be eligible, you generally need to be assessed by a GP who determines that a structured plan is clinically appropriate for your situation. This assessment can often be completed during your telehealth appointment, though your GP will advise whether an in-person visit is needed based on your circumstances. If you are experiencing anxiety, depression, insomnia, or other mental health concerns, a Mental Health Care Plan may be a helpful pathway to accessing ongoing support.
Your GP can also provide a psychiatrist referral if they believe specialist psychiatric assessment or treatment may be beneficial. All referrals and Mental Health Care Plans created during a NewDoc consultation are bulk billed for eligible Medicare patients.
Supporting your mental health between appointments
Professional treatment is an important part of managing mental health, but what you do between appointments may also make a difference. Your GP may suggest strategies that can complement your treatment, such as maintaining a regular sleep schedule, staying physically active, limiting alcohol and caffeine, practising relaxation or breathing techniques, and staying connected with people you trust.
These strategies are not a substitute for professional care, and what works varies from person to person. Your GP can help you identify approaches that may suit your situation. If you are struggling between appointments or feel that your condition is worsening, you can book another consultation with a NewDoc GP at any time.
Privacy and confidentiality
All NewDoc consultations are confidential. Your telehealth appointment is conducted in a private, secure environment, and your health information is protected under the Australian Privacy Principles. Speaking to a GP from home can feel more comfortable and private than visiting a clinic, which is one reason many people prefer telehealth for mental health consultations.
Crisis and emergency support
NewDoc telehealth is not an emergency or crisis service. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or need urgent support, the following services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
- Lifeline — 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue — 1300 22 4636
- 13YARN (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support) — 13 92 76
These services provide free, confidential support from trained counsellors. If you are not in crisis but would like to speak to a GP about how you are feeling, you can book a bulk billed telehealth appointment with NewDoc at a time that suits you.