Getting the right diagnosis

[Wombat_Divine]

What has worked for me? Getting the right diagnosis for starters and this was only possible with regular therapy. 

I am in the living in the USA for several years with my family. My husband has health insurance included in his work package. I have access to monthly psychiatrist visits and weekly psychologist visits, all for minimal cost. So far I have been here for 12 months and my recovery is going well and I believe I have received a correct diagnosis after many, many years. 

I don't think I would have received a correct diagnosis in Australia (at least not for a very long time), not because of mental health professionals' lack of skill, but because  access to mental health care is in Australia is expensive so I couldn't afford intense therapy. In Australia, I'd visit my psychiatrist every 3 months, paying a gap of approx $65. That wasn't too bad. However, to see a psychologist on a regular basis was beyond my means. I would get a mental health plan every year which would entitle me to 6 visits with a psych. I could also get a little rebate with my health insurance provider in  after I had used up my mental health plan, but it was quite minimal. So seeing a psychologist on a weekly basis, for a long period of time, was not possible as the psych I was seeing in Australia charges over $150 an hr. 

Had it not been for the intense therapy I have received over the last 12 months in the USA, I don't think I would have made such big strides towards recovery. I am not saying the USA system is better. Far from it. I am currently in a beneficial situation where I get healthcare almost for free. However when I return to Australia, I go back to paying my own health insurance with minimal mental health coverage. I am concerned that my mental health will go downhill. 

Anyway, I choose not to ruminate about this too much. 

Cheers,

Wombat Divine

[BenD]

Hi Wombat_Divine,

I have had a similar experience to you in that for a couple of years my visits to counsellors were few and far between. This year I have stepped it up and had 4 visits within a few months and it has helped tremendously. Hopefully we see more funding given to the sector in the future.

Ben

[geoff]

dear WD, I can't talk about health care overseas on a regular basis, because I haven't been there, but I do agree with you in that the money set aside for mental health, such as our medicare plan is far from being satisfactory, as our government presume that after 10 free visits we are suddenly cured, well that's rubbish, when you look at me for example, I had depression for humptin years.

I am lucky if you want to call it that way, in that all my visits are paid for by workcover as the accident happened while working, but I don't call it lucky at all, because if it didn't happen then maybe I wouldn't need to see a psych.

The funding the mental sector gets is by no way adequate, never has been and probably won't change, not unless a politician or someone very important suffers from this illness, but then they would get special treatment.

I could go on and fill the quota in words left, and then go again, but hopefully my point is made. Geoff.