Re: How to navigate getting help

Find a bulk billing GP and ask them to write you a mental healthcare plan. This will get you 6 or depending on your state's legislation free sessions bulk billed.

Obtain a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP): Visit your GP to assess your needs and get a referral.

Check Eligibility: You need a valid Medicare card. Some providers prioritize concession card holders.

Number of Sessions: Medicare currently offers up to 10 individual, fully-covered sessions per calendar year if you find a provider who bulk bills the entire session.

www.mymirror.com.au

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Where to Find Bulk-Billed Psychologists

Telehealth Services: These often offer specialized bulk-billed services:

Someone.health: Over 200 psychologists, offering 10 bulk-billed sessions.

My Mirror: Offers 50-minute sessions.

Remote Therapy: Phone or video consultations.

Uniwell Health & Teldoc: Telehealth providers.

Community & Local Health: Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury Sydney offers services in specific regions.

Sorry I cant edit this blurb on the steps on how to get it but there might be some help here.

Other than that if depending on your state you can also access community mental health hubs, bulk billed GPs, and then the free chat services from Lifeline, Beyond Blue, etc.

I hope that helps!!

Hey @Nw,

We wanted to take this opportunity to welcome you to the forums.

It is understandable that it can feel lost and difficult when you would like to get some professional support but there are financial struggles that you need to cope with. We can see the community has shared some great resources with you around how you can get the support from the GP or different helpline so that you don't need to deal with on your own.

Let the community know how we can best support you. We're here for you.

I know how frustrating and disappointing that feels when you’ve been speaking with the same therapist for a great length of time- for me it’s been at least 5 years! Now I can’t afford to pay her up front as she demands even though on safety net I might get 85% back is it? On an age pension or CentreLink benefit these things can’t happen! I was receiving some counselling through my Health Fund and they decided to refer me to the Mental Health Team at the local hospital! It may be free but watch your choices and right to decision

making disappear! I am treading warily! I’d be ready to run if I wasn’t falling down walking! Scary the situations you find yourself in with no advocate to stand with you!

Doldip15

@Nw @Doldip15 , I feel your pain too. I have/had similar experiences (except I have not had help from the public system because they “don’t have anything suitable” for me). GPs where I am do not bulk-bill. When I was 18 I had to get a creditcard so that I could afford to pay the psychiatrist fees upfront whilst waiting for the medicare rebate to come into my bank account to then be able to pay it off the creditcard 😏. On the plus side? I got a good credit-rating from a young age because the only thing I put on it was medical expenses that I got rebates for - so I was always able to pay it off. (I went without other medical help due to finances, the psychiatrist was my sole thing I could afford).

I wish I had a solution for you to suggest.

Unmet support needs are the hardest.

You are amazing in that you were able to restrict the credit card to medical bills only! I admire that so much! I don’t think I’ve ever had a credit card Ive been able to control but often because I’ve also paid family expenses on it that have never been returned! I sometimes calculate in my head how much better off I would be if the money I was owed ever came back to me! A nice dream!