Mental Health

Mental Health Services

At Floreat Medical we seek to provide holistic, compassionate care to our patients no matter what their condition.

Psychological wellbeing is not separate to our physical health and as General Practitioners we are highly trained to consider psychological distress as a cause of illness. Doctors have many tools to help you regain your sense of balance, not just medicines although these are important and have their place. We have new online strategies, can recommend fabulous resources and liaise with your specialist teams as required. We can help you get back on track with motivation and exercise to enhance your mood.

Young people are a particularly vulnerable group, as are those who are recently bereaved, new parents, and those who may be socially isolated. At Floreat you will be treated with dignity and respect so if you think you could need some help, don’t suffer in silence.

Mental health issues are just health issues and nothing to be embarrassed about, and the more we talk about them the better we will be as a community. Contact us

 

Corona virus - Floreat Medical

The world is not the same since the coronavirus pandemic. All facets of society have been changed and challenged by the new social distancing, border closures and isolation rules. Mental health issues have spiked highlighting more than ever the need for us all to develop resilience and take a practical approach to how we deal with Covid-19.

Beyond Blue suggests a number of these practical solutions to ease your fears. See the website information here.

Researchers at Curtin University (see the covidcbt.org website) have developed a self-help guide. Their aim is to provide an easy to read pamphlet with ideas from experts to improve mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Access this self-help CBT guide here.

At Floreat Medical we have adapted to COVID-19 and feel we have a safe and welcoming environment which incorporates high hygiene standards, social distancing and careful screening of patients coming to the practice.

Book an appointment with your doctor to discuss any mental health concerns. We recommend a double appointment – 30 minutes – to allow time for a conversation about how you are feeling and discussions around treatment options or careplanning.

We are able to refer you for psychological strategies through a mental health care plan to get a substantial Medicare rebate that makes counselling more accessible for everyone.

A mental health care plan is a plan for improving your management of a mental health disorder. If you are being impacted by mental health issues, your doctor can write out this plan (GPMHCP). It identifies what type of health care you need, and spells out what you and your doctor have agreed you are aiming to achieve. It also may refer you to other care providers or your local mental health services.

Visit your regular doctor at Floreat Medical who will assess whether you will benefit from a GPMHCP. If you have a GPMHCP from your doctor, you will be entitled to Medicare rebates for up to 10 individual or 10 group appointments with some allied mental health services in a year. This means that if you are referred to a psychologist for one-on-one counselling sessions, you will be able to access a Medicare rebate component for each of the cost of your visits for 10 visits in a year.

You can’t get all 10 sessions in one go though. After the first 6 appointments, you need to see your doctor again for a mental health plan review and another referral for 4 more visits in that calendar year.

We all know that it is good to talk to someone. Sharing an experience, a memory, how you feel and what you are thinking helps us to look at ourselves and our own responses and reactions.

Sometimes that is enough to make us feel better and enable us to cope.

Family and friends always play a special role in listening and supporting. Sometimes family or friends can seem too close, or seem to be part of a problem that is causing worry.

That is when talking to your doctor is a chance to share your thoughts and for a non-judgmental person with experience to listen to you, and help. Your doctor will be open to any problems or concerns you may have, and the conversations you have are confidential.

General Practitioners are trained in listening, asking questions, understanding and managing mental health issues such as low mood, feeling stressed, low self-esteem, depression and anxiety, panic, and more troublesome mental health problems.

The GPs at Floreat Medical are here to listen. They are here to understand and not to judge in any way what you are thinking or what is happening in your life. They can assist you with mechanisms to support your mental health and to cope. This will include healthy life style habits, counselling and psychological support, referral to clinical psychologists, medication and referral to specialist psychiatrist when needed.

Many things in life can take away from our mental health and wellbeing.

Trauma can be the loss of a loved one, being a long time carer, money worries or work issues, local or world events that cause fear and loss of security, social or other media that makes you feel bad or sad, interactions with others that are bullying or abusive or let you down, and lack of cohesive family, friends or social network support.

Sometimes it is hard to cope with trauma, whatever it might be. Your GP understands that every individual has a unique perspective of themselves and what is happening in their lives. Every individual and circumstance is unique. The history of the person is always part of the current story.

The GPs at Floreat Medical are genuinely interested in you and your well being from both a physical and mental perspective.

Different things are triggers to different people; all of the responses and reactions are valid to the individual and we are here to understand, and provide help and treatment that is best for you.

The doctors at Floreat Medical look after a range of mental health problems in any age or stage of life. Feel secure to make an appointment and start the conversation for you. Or if you are worried about a friend or family member, you can encourage them and make an appointment for them to see one of our GPs.

It is never too early to get help.

Being mentally healthy underpins a healthy life.

Make an appointment at Floreat Medical today.

It is very important that we care for young people who are having troubles with their mental wellbeing.

Young people can suffer from boredom, a sense of loneliness and isolation, low self-esteem, stress and anxiety, fluctuating and low mood, restlessness, frustration and depression.

Many of these feelings can lead to significant loss of good health and an unhappy life.

Depression and anxiety are leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents. Emotional disorders can profoundly affect areas like schoolwork and school attendance. Social withdrawal can increase isolation and loneliness. At times it can feel as though the only way out is to not exist anymore. Thoughts of suicide are always taken seriously. Speak honestly with your doctor about your feelings, thoughts and experiences.

Body image and anorexia, withdrawal, self-harm, use of alcohol and other drugs, and thinking about dying and suicide are all things that young people can experience. The GPs at Floreat Medical care and understand, and are here to help.

Throughout adolescence, a young person is working out their sense of self. Appearance, relationships, sexual identity, experimentation and the uncertainty of the future all play a role.

Factors that can contribute to mental stress during adolescence include a desire for greater freedom, pressure to conform with friends, exploration of sexuality, and increased access to and use of technology. Social media often presents a distorted reality. So much connection via various means can make someone feel very alone, left out, and of little value. It can be a relentless trauma and it is okay to know that the phone or ipad or computer can be “switched off”. Real conversations with friends and family are important.

It is good to develop healthy habits such as regular exercise, healthy food intake, ‘time out’ for quiet thinking, reading or listening to music, healthy sleep patterns, planning work or study to take pressure off, talking to peers, and understanding and managing emotions.

A sense of belonging to a family and friendship group is important. Trauma can occur if these key security areas feel risky and unsure.

Young people need to be protected, and also know how to protect themselves. Unfortunately, sometimes situations can arise where others take advantage of what they see is vulnerability in a young person and a situation of abuse can occur. This can be physical, sexual or mental.

Abuse can occur at school, at home, on social media, in a work environment or socially and can be insidious or unexpected.

A safe place to go is to your GP. Confidential and trustworthy, your GP can help. Some things are very sensitive and private. Your GP at Floreat Medical knows how to listen and understand without judgement.

If reading this website content causes any concerns please seek help:
• Head 2 Health https://headtohealth.gov.au
• Crisis hotlines & chats https://headtohealth.gov.au/crisis-links
• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• Kids helpline: 1800 55 1800
• Beyondblue support service: 1300 22 4636

3 million Australians are living with anxiety or depression

Beyond Blue at https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live.

Our doctors are experienced and skilled at having conversations and understanding people experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety and who may be at risk of suicide.

Formulating a plan for management of your symptoms through a mental health care plan or referring you for mental health services such as counselling provides an opportunity for mapping a path to wellness.

Talk to your regular GP if you have mental health concerns.