A workforce of thousands is ready to tackle the mental health fallout from the pandemic's Omicron wave, but they’re not being fully utilised, counsellors say.
Registered counsellors and psychotherapists have been lobbying the federal government since the start of the pandemic in 2020 to be included under the Medicare rebate scheme, like psychologists, to ease the strain on the health system.
Toowoomba counsellor Kathryn Millist-Spendlove said she was frustrated she could not do more to help as the latest COVID-19 wave peaked in Queensland.
"I think that psychology and psychiatry are absolutely vital … but not everybody needs that level of mental health care and not everyone needs a diagnosis, or medication," Ms Millist-Spendlove said.
"The fact that there are options for people that don't need those things, that people aren't being made aware of, and that the government aren't subsidising, I think that's a real shame."
Closing the books
In regions across Australia, people are waiting up to nine months for an appointment with a psychologist through a mental health plan.
The Australian Psychological Society surveyed members last year and found since the start of the pandemic, one in five Queensland clinics had to close their books to new clients.
Prior to the pandemic, one in 100 psychologists were not taking new clients.
"Why is this happening? Why are so many people falling through the cracks? I know the struggle of registered counsellors, some of whom sometimes struggled to get clients," she said.
"We can do cognitive behavioural therapy, all of it. We just can't diagnose.
"It's not because they're not good at their jobs, it's just because people don't realise they're there," Ms Millist-Spendlove said.
The Australian Counselling Association (ACA) hoped the March federal budget would address what it believed was a crisis that was yet to peak.
"Not only is there a shortage but the gap fee paid, that the psychologists are asking for, is ridiculous and the average Australian can’t afford it, let alone those low socio- economic areas or regional or rural Australia,” ACA president Phillip Armstrong said.
Better Investment
Clinical psychologist and president of the Australian Psychological Society, Tamara Cavanett, believed financial support should be allocated to getting more psychologists working instead.
"At the moment, we've got thousands of students who are rejected every year across the entire system in their final year of training, so we're training them three-quarters of the way," Ms Cavanett said.
She said there were not enough federally funded placements and it was rare for regional psychologists to take on students.
"We're essentially letting them go when we could actually finish their training and make an investment in that.
"Then we'd get people who are six to eight years trained in psychology."
Ms Cavanett said while counsellors played an important role in mental health, it would be quicker to invest in those psychology students.
"We would really love to see that if an investment was to be made, that it might be considered within the psychology workforce," she said.
"Also that we're going to see into the future."
Government Priority
A spokesperson for the Federal Health Department said mental health and suicide prevention remained one of the government’s highest priorities.
"Through the 2021-22 budget, the government is investing $2.3 billion in the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan to deliver landmark reform and ensure all Australians have access to a world-class mental health system supported by a highly trained and qualified workforce," the spokesperson said.
"The government recognises the valuable role of counsellors as part of this workforce, including through numerous government-funded programs and national telephone and digital services."
The department also pointed to a National Mental Health Workforce Strategy being developed, which would guide national efforts to attract, train and retain the workforce required to meet the current and future demands of the mental health system.
But Mr Armstrong said all of those solutions were still years away.
"The bottom line is, the average Australian is suffering.
"And that's the point. The fact is there is not going to be a sudden influx of psychologists into the system."
