How do I know when I find a good mental health GP & when to change?

@Blep thanks I'll check that out. Do you have any idea what to look for in a helpful GP?

My guess would just be that they have knowledge of the area and what's around for support for mental illness, prescribe you meds, etc? Or am I wrong?

My current GP is okay, she's nice, better than my old one that's for sure. @HopefulWarrior

The things I want in a GP is:
Someone I can trust.
Someone who will listen.
Someone who will go above and beyond to find the best resources for me.

For example when I was diagnosed with anatel depression my GP called the royal women's pharmacy to ask what anti depressant would be safer for me to take since I was pregnant.

Your GP isn't going to have all the answers and doesn't know everything but they should know who to contact for further assistance.

@Former-Member

@Blep thanks very much, that's quite helpful to me. thank you @HopefulWarrior also, I'll take both of your suggestions on board.

my current GP just says go to triage and speak to my psychiatrist but I told her the triage refuse to help and I don't know why otherwise I would go there. she doesn't know any other people around as in Psychologists etc, but I did tell her all Psychologists don't bulk bill and aren't accepting new patients, even before the virus started. there's some ive seen on the same Telehealth company as my Psychiatrist but they were just awful and yes I told my Psychiatrist about that because he asked if ive tried anyone on there.

i did find some other Telehealth GPs and Psychologists but they're way too pricey and one I found for psychologists, the wait list seems too long and they won't bulk bill me.

I did apply for the DSP but was rejected the first time so I applied again, they said they're processing it which they didn't say the first time so fingers crossed, my psychiatrist wrote a letter for them too which I sent in. I have a healthcare card though but that doesn't seem to make any difference with therapy, only my meds. I guess we'll see.

Sorry for my long comment, thanks for your help both of you, I appreciate it

thanks, will do @HopefulWarrior .

It's also hard at the moment because the clinic is just doing video and phone calls, I don't have Skype, I talk to my Psychiatrist on an app through a Telehealth company.

I spoke to her once on the phone and it went for literally 3 minutes and it was just a waste of time and she had me on speaker so I could barely hear her

@Former-Member I understand your pain completely here.. My former GP I saw for 7.5 years, and for most of the time they were pretty good and even were happy for me not to see a psych as they knew from past experiences how unhelpful it had been for me. As a result, I saw the GP weekly and they managed my medication etc. Things had been going well until I left my ex husband and as a result spiralled downhill. I was having crisis admissions to hospital (after a break of a few years) and after one admission on my next appointment with her she told me that "I was turning into the same person as a few years ago, and if I wanted to end my life I would've done it by now." As a result, I walked out of the appointment, didn't get a new prescription for my medication so I ran out and went cold turkey. I have never been back, and refuse to see a GP now based on this experience. People keep saying to me that I need a GP (it was actually one of my conditions from being discharged from hospital), however, they don't understand that I just can't now based on this experience.

I did have an amazing GP when I lived overseas. She was the most kind, caring and warm doctor- she gave her patients her mobile and home phone numbers, so we could contact her if needed at any time. Even though I'm now back in Australia, she doesn't mind if I occasionally send her a message etc to get an opinion on something or even say hi. Whenever I'm in the area, we have a coffee and catch up.

I guess what I'm trying to say (very badly!) is a good GP is someone you can count on to give you the best support when needed, allow you to vent and not judge. You need to trust them completely and be able to be completely open and honest with them. They are around, however they are extremely rare. I'm not sure what your diagnosis is or where you're located. Talk to other friends etc about who they see. Whether an organisation like Kids Help Line may have access to contact details for good support services in your area..

Hope this helps 💐

@ms_37 sorry to hear that.

I don't have any friends and no one knows around where I live.