The Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) has welcomed a Senate inquiry into the accessibility of mental health services in regional and remote Australia.
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The inquiry was secured by the Greens and Labor.
"This inquiry is very timely and welcome," RDAA president Dr Adam Coltzau said.
"There is a critical need to improve access to mental healthcare in rural and remote Australia.
"Many rural patients find it hard to access mental health help when they need it and often this comes down to the shortage of psychologists and other mental health professionals in the bush.
"More rural and remote patients are visiting their local doctor for mental healthcare with this area of care becoming a much larger component of rural general practice than it was in the past.
"It is fantastic that more rural Australians are realising they need to look after their mental as well as physical health, and we strongly encourage this.
"It is also important to recognise that it is often only through a consultation for a physical health concern that a rural doctor will uncover a patient's mental health needs. But doctors and other health professionals who provide mental healthcare in country communities need better support in undertaking mental health upskilling, and in recognition of the longer consultation times involved. Unlike other consultations in general practice, mental health consults rarely fit neatly into a standard consultation timeframe. They are often complex, with the patient needing significant support and counselling.
"Additionally, there can be substantial work undertaken by rural doctors, outside a face-to-face consult, for patients with mental health needs. This is often done over the phone and not remunerated such as helping to reassure a patient in immediate need, or organising a place at a distant hospital for urgent mental health treatment.
"Last year, RDAA welcomed the Federal Government's announcement to increase access for rural and remote Australians to Medicare-rebated mental healthcare delivered by telehealth consults with distant psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health professionals.
"We believe that Medicare rebates for telehealth consults between rural patients and their regular GP should also be introduced. These would not just be for mental healthcare, but would greatly benefit rural patients who live a long distance out of town and need mental health help.
"Under the National Rural Generalist Pathway being progressed by the Federal Government, graduate doctors training as rural generalist doctors will also be able to undertake advanced mental healthcare as a key element of their training, alongside other advanced skills.
"This will help greatly in delivering to the bush more rural generalist doctors with advanced mental health skills. We fervently hope that the first tranche of funding for the Pathway will be announced in the Federal Budget."