Professional help

[Jaybird77]

I don’t know where else to seek help from so I have come here. After many years of living in my own hell inside my own head I finally went to my gp to seek help to see a psychiatrist. He gave me a referral and wrote down what he thinks is wrong with me. 

But when I started looking into finding one I never in my life realised it’s not so easy to get one. I need to have one that will do only video calls or phone calls as I don’t leave the house and have agoraphobia. 

How on earth do people afford to get help with the cost of these psychiatrists? I may not be able to get help now and that was my last hope of staying on this earth. $250 to $300 for a hour is not the kind of money I have. So I may have to for go seeking help and I know I’m getting to the point of no return been on this earth and ide rather just leave. I have Medicare but even with that it’s still more then i can afford. 

I am at such a loss now and feel so alone in this and am starting to feel there is no other way out but to just leave . 

How do people on very low incomes afford to get help to keep them living ? 

[geoff]

Hello Jaybird, I'm surprised your doctor didn't offer you 'the mental health plan', which entitles you to 20 Medicare paid sessions with a psych and this can happen per year.

This will enable you to talk with someone at no cost to yourself so if you can go back to your GP and ask for this, at least that's a start.

Geoff.

Life Member.

[Jaybird77]

Hello Geoff

I have never heard of that and my doctor did not tell me about it either. He knows how messed it leaves me having to leave the house and I managed to get to him last week face to face and now he will probably say I have to go back into him if I want what your talking about with that mental health plan and I really can’t bring myself so go back out there again 😰. The fear and energy it takes out of me having to go out into the public affects me for weeks after. I never believed this could really happen to people until it happend to me. 

[Sophie_M]

Hey Jaybird77,

Thank you for sharing this. We can hear you've taken such an important step in getting some support from the GP. It's also really great that you've started this conversation and shared some of your story here. This is an amazing community and it's a question a few members may have asked themselves.

There are some handy tools for finding a professional on our site, here:

• Find a mental health professional
• To find a qualified psychologist near you could use the Australian Psychological Society’s directory 
• The Australian Psychological Society has more information about costs and rebates here - How much does seeing a psychologist cost?

We can hear it's sometimes made you feel like you're reaching a point of no return. It sounds like you could really do with a discussion about this. If you'd ever like to give our counsellors a call on the Beyond Blue Support Service, we're here for you. We are available 24/7 by phone on 1300 22 4636, and the team are really good at talking people through moments like this and working out options for more support. 

We hope that you find our forums to be a safe and supportive space to talk through your thoughts and feelings. 

Kind regards,

Sophie M

[David35]

If you're scared of visiting in person, you can always have telehealth appointments via Skype. I had one last time with my psychologist when I had the flu. It's a bit more of a hassle to set up but as long as you have a tablet and good wifi, it maybe an alternative. I'm sure your psychologist would understand if you explained this to them.

[mmMekitty]

Hi Jaybird77

You've had some good advice here already.

I just wanted to say, I see my psychiatrist via FaceTime on my iPhone. I call him at our scheduled time. He also offered Zoom as an alternative, however, i find FaceTime fairly simple if I don't want to do whatever else it can do; I struggle with technology.

Yes, I use Medicare to pay for much of his fees. At the beginning of each year it is more difficult, until the Safety Net kicks in. I am on Disability Support Pension, & I rent a gov flat, too, which helps a lot. Honestly, I have to be frugal to afford him. This is a necessity in my life, so I have to make choices about it.

The Australian Psychological Society also has a 'Find a Psychologist' page, where you can enter things like 'telehealth' (which is what you are talking about), & 'Agoraphobia' & location. They offer these filters because some like to work in certain areas, or with people with certain conditions. & now we have telehealth, so many are offering phone/video call appointments.

Without a Medicare Health Care Plan, you will still have to ask them about the fees.

I know people can recover from Agoraphobia, usually by testing the limits of your ability to go out, &  slowly stretching those limits.

I would suggest you go back to your GP & ask for a Mental Health Care Plan, & get with a psychologist. That way won't cost you anything. But, as Geoff said, you will be limited to 20 sessions for this year.

All the best

mmMekitty

[geoff]

Hello Jaybird, I know that it takes all your energy to go back to your doctor, but perhaps you could treat yourself to something special, whatever that may be, because this mental health plan allows you much benefit as hard as it is for you.

Geoff.

Life Member.