General practitioners

General practitioners (GPs) are usually the first port of call for mental health problems. A general practitioner may conduct a general check-up to identify whether there are any physical causes to the symptoms (whether of depression and/or mania) and assess the nature of the mental health problem. Depending on the nature of the problem, the general practitioner might refer you to a psychiatrist, or suggest psychological therapy with a psychologist or a counsellor. The general practitioner might also prescribe some medication to relieve some of the symptoms of your depression. (When visiting a general practitioner to discuss a mental health issue it's best to book a long consultation, as it can take time for him or her to explore all the issues associated with making an accurate diagnosis.)

Some general practitioners have a special interest in mental health and undergo further training in this area. Some general practitioners might themselves be skilled in specialised counselling, cognitive behaviour therapy or other psychological approaches.

If you are not comfortable seeing your own general practitioner about a mental health problem, find another one with whom you do feel comfortable. It is important that you feel comfortable talking with your doctor about how you are feeling so he or she has as much information to help you as possible.

If you are having trouble tracking down such a general practitioner, you could telephone general practices in your area to find out whether any doctors in that practice have a particularly strong interest in mental health and, if so, whether they are taking on new patients. (Ask to speak to the practice manager about this.) You could also try ringing your local Division of General Practice to enquire about general practitioners in your local area who might have undergone the additional training in mental health. Alternatively, you can access the Australian General Practice Network Directory on-line.

beyondblue also have a national listing of health practitioners with an interest and/or expertise in the treatment of depression and anxiety. You can access their Directory of Medical and Allied Health Practitioners in Mental Health online.

Cost:

The cost of visiting a general practitioner is either fully or partially covered under Medicare. If your general practitioner bulk bills, the full cost of the consultation will be covered under Medicare, if not, you will need to pay your general practitioner (and then claim back from Medicare the rebate for the consultation).