Australia is experiencing a mental health crisis. As a result of the pandemic, demand for mental health services has spiked, especially among young Australians and in regional communities. But currently, there aren’t enough mental health specialists to respond to this demand.

This is why the Australian Counselling Association is calling for registered counsellors to be included on Medicare.

Australians are waiting for months to access psychology appointments. The demand for therapy is so high that many psychologists have stopped accepting new patients altogether.

This change will give thousands of Australians access to affordable mental health care and reduce the financial impact of mental health on the economy.

While this is a nation-wide issue, it's amplified in regional and rural areas where mental health services are most lacking. The further from cities you go, the higher suicide and self-harm rates are. Almost a third of Australians live in rural and remote areas, however the majority of psychologists are employed in major cities.

We have an immediate, simple solution - over 9000 highly skilled counsellors are ready to provide their services to regional and rural communities. Counsellors are being under-utilised in the mental health workforce, despite being an appropriate and cost-effective option for Australians struggling with their mental health.

Please sign and share this petition urging the government to include registered counsellors on Medicare, to help resolve Australia’s growing mental health crisis.