The importance of GPs in mental health

The importance of GPs in mental health

Approximately 1 in 5 Australians aged 16–85 (22%, or 4.3 million people) experienced a mental disorder in the previous 12 months, and approximately 8,514,700 Australians aged 16–85 (43%) have experienced a mental illness sometime in their lifetime.

Additionally, since 2017, GPs have consistently reported the most common health issues they manage are mental health related. This is consistent in the 2024 Health of the Nation report, which tells us 71% of GPs report psychological issues in their top three reasons for presentations.

It is clear that GPs are at the forefront of caring for Australians with mental health needs. This is why GPs need the skills and knowledge required to identify and address patients’ mental health needs.


Skills and knowledge GPs need to provide

GPMHSC-accredited training provides GPs with the fundamental skills required to assess a patient’s needs, recommend appropriate referral options, and manage a patient’s ongoing mental health care in the context of general practice.

In Australia, the term ‘general practice mental health care’ refers to the assessment, management, and ongoing care of people who experience mental illness of varying degrees.

To provide general practice mental health care, GPs need to be able to:

• identify mental health issues
• ensure that the patient receives appropriate care

This includes being able to:

• perform a biopsychosocial assessment, taking into account the patient’s chronic and acute physical and mental health issues, as well as their past and present personal, social and cultural circumstances (the GPMHSC does not endorse any diagnostic tool for GPs, who may choose the assessment method and diagnostic tool they believe to be the most suitable)
• identify early warning signs of mental illness
• identify risk factors of mental illness
• provide support and advice that can reduce risk factors and potentially prevent mental illness.

 

This includes being able to:

• identify signs of suicide risk, and respond accordingly
• provide or recommend appropriate care based on the patient’s assessed needs (e.g. e-mental health for mild mental health issues, face-to-face counselling for moderate to severe mental health issues) and cultural factors that may influence the model of care chosen
• provide continuity of care, which is a key component of the successful treatment of people with mental illness
• use and participate in a multidisciplinary approach to care
• Develop a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) for each patient

Useful resources Suicide prevention and first aid: a resource for GPs. Available at: https://gpmhsc.org.au/resources-for-gps/suicide-prevention-and-first-aid After suicide: a resource for GPs. Available at: https://gpmhsc.org.au/resources-for-gps/after-suicide Practice guide: Communication between medical and mental health professionals. Available at:https://gpmhsc.org.au/resources-for-gps/communication-between-medical-and-mental-health-professionals Working with the Stepped Care Model: Mental health services through general practice. Available at: https://gpmhsc.org.au/resources-for-gps/stepped-care-model

GP Mental Health Treatment Plans

GP Mental Health Treatment Plans (MHTPs):

• provide continuity of care for people with a mental illness
• provide a structured framework for GPs to undertake assessment, early intervention and management of patients with a mental illness
• assist with coordination of care and provide a referral pathway to allied mental health service providers
• allow the GP to actively involve the patient and carer, where possible, in their care.

When a GP uses an MHTP template, such as those developed by the GPMHSC, they can be guided through important questions and prompts when discussing a patient's mental health issues.
 

GP MHTP templates

The GPMHSC GP MHTP templates can enhance the quality of mental health care provision and support GPs in managing common mental health disorders under the Better Access initiative. The templates are designed to provide prompts in the assessment, treatment planning and review of patients experiencing symptoms of a mental illness, and to assist in the documentation of this information.
The GPMHSC has published five templates:

• a short-form template titled Minimal requirements
• a template for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
• a template for use with adult patients
• a template for use with child and adolescent patients
• a template as a Subjective Objective Assessment Plan (SOAP)

It is not necessary to complete all fields when preparing the GP MHTP. GPs may choose to adapt the templates according to the needs of their practice and their patients. It is not mandatory to use any particular form when preparing and claiming for a GP MHTP.

Reviewing a patient’s GP MHTP

GP MHTPs do not expire at the end of a calendar year, so the patient does not need a new plan to continue their GP MHTP into the next calendar year unless the referring practitioner considers it is clinically required.

This means that a patient can continue to be eligible for rebated allied mental health services in the next calendar year under their existing plan, if the referring GP assesses that the patient continues to need these services.

Generally, new plans should not be developed within 12 months of the previous plan, unless the referring practitioner considers it to be clinically required.

A GP can assess and manage the patient’s progress and write a new referral for further services using A standard general practice consultation item (e.g. MBS items 23, 36 and 44).

Note: The MHTP review item numbers 2712 and 2713 were removed in November 2025, to be replaced by standard consultation numbers.