Mental Health Care Plans… What are they?

Mental health care plans are a plan provided by your local GP for people who may be suffering from a mental illness. What is a mental illness? A mental illness is a wide range of conditions that affect mood, thinking and behaviour. Anything from major depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder or PTSD.

A mental health care plan may involve several health care professionals such as psychologists, GPs, psychiatrists, counsellors, social workers and other community care providers. They are all part of the healthcare team, which works together to provide you with the best level of care possible. Your doctor will use a care plan to help you work out what services you need, set goals and decide on the best treatment options for you. The plan explains the support provided by each of those professionals and when treatment should be provided. Your care plan might also include what to do in a crisis or to prevent relapse. Everyone’s treatment needs are different.

Having a care plan will help you become more involved in your healthcare.

A care plan can:

• Help you to set and achieve goals
• Make sure everyone involved in your mental healthcare team is working towards the same goals
• Help you and your doctor manage your long-term care in a way that is clear and easy to understand
• Give you a way to monitor your progress and check that you continue to receive the care you need
• Lead to better treatment by focusing on improving and maintaining your health rather than just dealing with problems as they arise
• Provide life-saving information in emergencies.

Most care plans are done in your doctor’s office. However, you may also have a care plan prepared for you when you leave hospital. The time it takes to draw up the care plan depends on your healthcare professional and the complexity of your situation.

Some things to think about include:

• You will need to request a long consultation with your doctor to allow enough time to prepare your care plan and discuss your treatment options.
• If you would like a carer, family member or someone else to accompany you to the care plan appointments, you may wish to let your doctor know beforehand.
• Your doctor must get your consent before a care plan is developed, and you should be given a written statement of your rights and responsibilities.
• Discuss with your doctor any aspects of your assessment that you do not want discussed with the other members of your healthcare team.

Once you have a mental health care plan, you should continue to see the same doctor for review and management. Significant changes in your health may mean you need to make a new care plan. Even if there are no big changes to your situation, your care plan should be reviewed regularly to make sure it continues to meet your needs.

If you have a Medicare card, Medicare will cover some or all of the cost of care planning by a doctor. It may also rebate some of the costs of certain specialists or other health professionals, which will be charged separately.

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Example of a Mental Health Care Plan.

Where you can go to for help:

• Your local doctor
• Lifeline Tel. 13 11 14
• Kids Help Line Tel. 1800 55 1800
• Mensline Australia Tel. 1300 789 978
• Headspace.