AAPi President Sahra O’Doherty was featured in the Heald Sun on Friday. The article noted fewer Australians accessed subsidised mental health care last financial year, despite soaring rates of illness, with AAPi urging Labor to boost the number of Medicare-funded psychology sessions for "complex patients".
Overall, the number of people who received psychology and psychiatrist appointments, eating disorder treatment plans, GP mental health plans, group psychotherapy and supports funded through Medicare fell in 2022 - 23 compared to the prior financial year, according to new Productivity Commission data.
Sahra O'Doherty said the ongoing fallout from Covid and increased stressors such as the cost of living crisis had significantly driven up demand for psychologists but the limited number of sessions was a significant issue.
Coalition health spokesperson Anne Ruston said it was “outrageous” to see Labor cut the number of Medicare-subsidised sessions offered per person during the cost-of-living crisis.
Read the article.