Nearly half of all Australian adults—approximately 7.3 million people—will experience mental health challenges at some stage in their lives. However, many of those in need of support are unable to access it due to prohibitive costs and a lack of availability.
While the Australian government provides Medicare-funded mental health services, including 10 subsidised psychology sessions annually, patients are often required to pay an average gap fee of $100 per session. For many, particularly older Australians on fixed incomes, this payment can be unaffordable. Furthermore, in December 2022, the Federal Government reduced the number of subsidised sessions from 20 to just 10, further limiting access.
In 2022-2023, only one in 10 Australians—around 2.7 million people—accessed Medicare-subsidised mental health services.
As traditional in-person consultations become more difficult to secure, telehealth services have emerged as a vital solution. During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth became essential for health services nationwide, and its popularity has continued to grow. Many general practices are now unable to accept new patients, leaving telehealth as a primary option for consultations.
Telehealth has now expanded into mental health care, with providers such as Someone.health making a significant impact. The company currently offers bulk-billed telehealth psychology appointments, with psychologists seeing 1,600 clients a week. Additionally, prospective patients can meet with a Someone.health GP via telehealth to create a mental health plan, which is required for bulk-billed psychology services.
Sarah Richardson, Chief Executive Officer of Someone.health, emphasized the importance of accessible mental health support, saying, “Affordable and timely mental health support is essential to ensuring Australians can live healthy, fulfilling lives. Online services are revolutionizing access by helping to remove common barriers such as cost, location, and availability.”
Richardson noted that mental health issues are not limited to any one age group, stressing that older Australians, in particular, often face challenges related to retirement, health problems, and family changes. She added that although some individuals may struggle with technology, her team is dedicated to helping them navigate the digital landscape.
“The system is straightforward,” Richardson explained. “Once an appointment is scheduled, we send a link to the patient’s laptop or phone, and they simply click on it to join the consultation.”
As telehealth continues to reshape the delivery of mental health care in Australia, it is offering a much-needed lifeline for individuals seeking affordable and timely support.
