Prioritise Your Mental Well-being
Mental health shapes how you think, sleep, work and connect with the people around you. A GP is a sensible first person to talk to, and there is no need to wait until things feel unmanageable before booking.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000. Lifeline is available 24 hours a day on 13 11 14, and Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
Changes worth paying attention to
Mood and stress levels can shift with life events: a new baby, a relationship ending, redundancy, looking after an unwell relative, illness or grief. Noticing a change early often makes it easier to recover. Some signs that it may be time to talk with a doctor:
- Feeling down, anxious or on edge for more than two weeks
- Sleeping much more or much less than usual
- Work, study or family life becoming hard to manage
- Pulling away from friends or things you used to enjoy
- Drinking more alcohol or using other substances to cope
- Big changes in appetite or weight
- People close to you saying they are worried
Support a GP can provide
- Assessment and ongoing care for anxiety and depression
- Help with stress, sleep problems and burnout
- A Mental Health Care Plan and referral to a psychologist
- Prescribing and reviewing medicine when it is appropriate
- Advice on everyday habits that affect mood and energy
- Referral to a psychiatrist when specialist input is needed
Starting the conversation
Knowing exactly what is wrong is not a requirement. Plenty of people simply say they have not felt like themselves lately. GPs often ask about mood, sleep, appetite, alcohol and physical health, because problems such as an underactive thyroid, anaemia or the side effects of some medicines can cause symptoms that feel like low mood or anxiety.
Share only what feels comfortable. A few notes jotted down beforehand, covering what has changed and when it started, plus a list of any medicines or supplements, can make the first visit easier.
Other ways to see a doctor
Getting to the clinic is not always easy when you are struggling. Talking by phone is one alternative, since a doctor’s phone appointment is available to book. Home visits exist for clinic patients whose illness stops them travelling. For anyone more at ease in another language, interpreting is offered over the phone, or in person when requested in advance. Call reception to organise any of these and to ask about fees.
Privacy and confidentiality
Doctors in Australia have legal and professional duties to keep health information private. What you say in a consultation is not shared with your employer, school or family without your consent. The exceptions are narrow, such as when there is a serious risk to someone’s safety or the law requires disclosure.
Keeping care in one place
Good mental health care often involves more than one person, such as a psychologist, a psychiatrist or a community service. Seeing a regular GP means one person can coordinate those referrals and keep an eye on physical health at the same time, which saves retelling your story to everyone involved. If you already see a counsellor or psychologist, mention it so your care stays connected.
Juniper Avenue Medical Centre also offers MyMedicare registration. It is a free, voluntary Medicare program that formally links you with the practice you usually attend, which helps keep your records and care together.
Fees and bulk billing
Out-of-pocket fees apply to most consultations, and each practitioner sets their own fees. Bulk billing is available with all our doctors for Veterans’ Affairs patients, pensioners over 65, childhood and adult immunisations and GP care plans. See our fees page or call reception before you book.