A Policy Suggestion for a Possible Campaign

@DDK I got the last 10 visits to my psych bulk billed as 10 free visits for the year as I wasn’t working, prior to that I was working and paying the psych full rate through and getting something back from Medicare it’s a constant for me to go to the psych but would prefer the visits be free and the government forking out the cash as I acquired the illness not through my own doings. If I understood the conversation correctly you are pushing for change to get the 10 free visits per year, which will allow me to focus my money into an investment property or something for when I become nonfunctional.

I would say 20% mandatory bulk billing but, they must also hire a lived experience person and have them available for general everyday queries. That way, the "pist" is able to do the heavy lifting once or twice a week, but if someone coaches them to understand that they can make it through this and that they understand where they are and how to make changes, thats where the lived experience could make the difference.

Thank you for your tag @Daisydreamer and an overdue hello 🙏

Welcome @DDK you read my mind. What a wonderful idea. A campaign is needed. I go without due to lack of funds and I'm sure I'm not alone. I hate that the gp's office has access to the notes, my practice must cringe when I walk in...

I once worked at one as a junior and was appalled that the head receptionist used to sit for hours reading patient notes!!!!!!!! Back in the day it was paper and she'd read them before putting them in the filing tray for me to file!!! Anyway I digress.

I have never been bulk billed for any visits and I support my son wholly with his at an astronomical cost which would make most people's toes curl. I have done plenty of research for bulk billing practices and have come up empty handed. I recall back when my son was in crisis having been discharged from his first mental health unit the wait with Headspace was weeks and when I mentioned I had private health their suggestion was to find someone in a private practice! I never did get him in with them or any receive any follow up from my enquiry. I know more funding has been granted since Covid but too little too late now.

Advocacy IS needed and I would be happy to be involved. Let's make some waves 🙏

Hello all here it's been a LONG time. Sending you all my deepest regards whilst I wade through life x

It depends so much on each person's understanding of 'genetic conditions' @TAB.

I'm not speaking about simple genetic traits, but how a lineage may have a predisposition to pass on certain conditions–I agree with that, to that limited extent, but what each of us might include may vary. My understanding is very difficult to put into words–and subject sensitive–so I won't labour on it.

I'm currently studying psychology–don't know how far I will take it, perhaps just a short course–but there are so many interpretations and nuances within the field, and so many misinterpretations when I compare with the in-depth discussions I had with my ex-psy. I would only say that, in my opinion, all of our innate personalities are further shaped within the family home, our tribe, our schooling, our experiences... and just as a physical injury may leave a physical impairment, so too psychological/emotional injury. And life provides ongoing opportunities for those.

As we experience, so our personality is re-shaped, and so it grows. And personality, behaviour, mood is all interwoven.

Our personalities are an extension of what preceded in our lineage, modified, improved, allowed to fall to ruin. I liken it to past foot-binding of certain Asian cultures–or head shaping of ?Egyptians.

Too complicated to express in such a quick and short response to such complex and individual circumstances. Cheers.

P.S. Governments can provide funding, sure, but how effectively that funding is used is key. As for medical/therapy funding–no amount of money can correct a system that is so unaccountably self-serving, and which would take guts, determination, insight and integrity to correct.

"As much opinion as fact"–that was also my point @TAB. We all have opinions but it is only when we discuss, correct and leave our opinions open to further consideration that blind acceptance of misconceptions and misinformation are corrected.

There are psychiatrists who say that 'we don't know what causes x, y, z, and psychiatrists who not only know, but who cure x,y,z. There are psychiatrists who say there is no cure for a,b,c and psychiatrists who cure a,b,c. So the only reason for these differences must be that some psychiatrists are incapable of learning from others and simply think they know everything. They can't be told, shown or proven wrong because admitting they are wrong leaves them vulnerable to finding much of their 'knowledge' is simply uncritically repeating what they have been taught–and if they have been taught incorrectly, what does that say for patient care and their future? And for correcting all of these failures in the system? Everyone can't be right.

yes, re 'schools' of thought I guess @Historylover and using science and adding sociology poss just 'legitimising ' in the end, it's whatever works I guess. that's why medicine and science use statistics I suppose.

> Make it a big percentage at least 50%.

Back of the napkin math incoming:

Roughly six million Australians hold concession cards and therefore can access bulk-billable healthcare services. Roughly 25% of any population have mental health issues. So, 1.5 million people in Australia have mental healthcare needs and a concession card.

Australia has about 28,500 psychologists who work an average of 33 hours per week (according to the latest report I could find). 24 of those were 'clinical' hours.

Let's assume every single one of those 1.5 million people with concession cards actually wanted to access MHC by seeing a psychologist regularly. Let's say 10 times a year. So 15 million clinical hours per year would need to be covered.

28,500 psychologists could cover that by devoting roughly 10-11 clinical hours per week to bulk-billable clients. So about 45% of their total average clinical hours per week.

Realistically, 1.5 million people with MH issues and a concession card are not going to seek those services. So it wouldn't even really need to be 45%. Probably closer to 30%.

Psychologists would take a pay cut. They do get less from a bulk billed client than they do charging, basically, whatever they want otherwise. So maybe the bulk billable amount would have to be increased to 'compensate'.

I dunno. Maybe my math is off. It's entirely possible I've gotten something grossly wrong here.

Hi people ..not sure if this is allowed, saw on tv late last night ..

@DDK @Historylover @Anastasia @AussieRecharger @Former-Member @moderator

https://www.holdingoutforhelp.com/

its a Petition for MH ..

Good one @TAB !