Source data: Medicare-subsidised mental health-specific services tables (142KB XLS)
In 2018–19, 8.7% of the Australian population received Medicare-subsidised mental health-specific services from a general practitioner (GP); 1.6% received services from a psychiatrist; 2.1% received Psychological Therapy Services from a clinical psychologist; 2.9% received psychology services other than Psychological Therapy Services, from a psychologist (clinical psychologist or other psychologist); and 0.4% received services from other allied health professionals, noting that an individual may receive services from more than one provider type. The number of people reported here as receiving services from GPs is limited to services billed against mental health-specific MBS item numbers, which is a sub-component of GP mental health-related activity. It is unclear how many additional people receive GP mental health-related care that is billed as a consultation against generic GP MBS item numbers; however, the results of the 2015–16 the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) survey suggest that this number is likely to be substantial. The BEACH survey estimated that, in 2015–16, 12.4% (18 million encounters or 749.9 encounters per 1,000 population) of all GP encounters were mental-health related. In the same year about 3.2 million (or 135.5 services per 1,000 population) Medicare-subsidised mental health-specific services were provided. Further information can be found in the General practice section.
Over time
The number of people receiving Medicare-subsidised mental health-specific services increased from 1.2 million (5.7% of Australians) in 2008–09 to 2.7 million (10.6% of Australians) in 2018–19. The percentage of Australians receiving services from psychiatrists was 1.3% in 2008–09 increasing to 1.6% in 2018–19, GPs 4.3% to 8.7%, clinical psychologists involving Psychological Therapy Services 0.8% to 2.1%, clinical psychologists (not involving Psychological Therapy Services), and other psychologists 1.5% to 2.9%, and other allied health services 0.1% to 0.4% (Figure MBS.3).