AAPi President Sahra O'Doherty is quoted extensively in an article in Insight+ (Medical Journal of Australia) about a study in The Lancet, which found that 70% of Australians diagnosed with major depressive disorder are not receiving minimally adequate treatment.
The study determined that "in 2021, 30% of Australians with a major depressive disorder received minimally adequate treatment. High-income regions showed the highest rates of adequate mental health treatment, but still quite low at 27% and only seven countries had rates that exceeded 30%."
The study defined minimally adequate treatment for major depressive disorders as pharmacotherapy (one month of medication, plus four visits to a medical doctor) or psychotherapy (eight visits with any professional).
Ms O'Doherty said the eight sessions needed to be with a mental health expert and were "just shy of the 10 rebated sessions provided each year on a mental health care plan", and even questioned whether that number was adequate.
“That number of 10 sessions doesn’t actually come from any research. When we’re looking at older research on cognitive behaviour therapy, that has previously recommended 12 to 18 visits,” she said.
The study's author, Dr Damian Santomauro, said the results highlighted that Australia has a long way to go with treating depression.
“The feedback we keep seeing is that they’re seeing a larger demand, but that the workforce itself hasn’t increased to keep to the same rate,” he told InSight+.
Ms O’Doherty said part of the reason there are mental health workforce issues is that they’re not being adequately compensated by Medicare rebates.
“Currently, the Medicare rebates have been basically stagnant since the Better Access Scheme’s inception in 2010. The rate has increased less than $10 in that time.
“We know that it’s incredibly difficult to service all of these patients with the current workforce, because the current workforce is so overworked and isn’t being adequately compensated with these really low rebates. So we’re wanting that rebate to be raised to $150 per session for every client of every psychologist in Australia,” she said.
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