Mental health isn’t fixed. It shifts with what is going on in our lives, our bodies and our relationships. About one in five Australian adults has a mental health condition in any given year, so if you are struggling, you are far from alone.
We look at the whole person, including your physical health, your thoughts and feelings, and what is happening around you. And we give you time. Talking about how you feel is hard enough without feeling rushed.
Anxiety and depression
These are the most common reasons people see a GP about their mental health, and they often turn up together.
- Anxiety is more than everyday stress. It means worries that are hard to control and get in the way of life. It can show up in the body as a racing heart, fast breathing, tummy upsets or a foggy head.
- Depression means a low mood that doesn’t lift, losing interest in things you used to enjoy, and changes in sleep, appetite or energy.
Treatment usually combines talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), with practical steps around sleep, activity and connection. Medicine can help some people. The brain can learn new patterns, and support can help with that.
Neurodivergence in adults
Autism
Many adults are now seeking an autism diagnosis for the first time, having been missed as children. Autism in adults can feel like social exhaustion, being on a different wavelength from others, or having deep, focused interests. For many, a diagnosis is less about treatment and more about understanding, and it can open the door to support at work and kinder self-talk. See our autism page.
ADHD
Adult ADHD is rarely about being hyperactive. It is more often trouble starting tasks, losing track of time, a racing mind and big feelings. Dr Stuart Arbuckle can assess and diagnose ADHD and prescribe for it under WA’s GP ADHD prescriber pathway. See our ADHD page.
A neuro-affirming approach
We don’t see autism or ADHD as broken versions of a “normal” brain, but as different wiring. We help with the hard parts, such as organisation or sensory overload, while making room for the strengths that often come with them, like deep focus, creativity and fresh ways of solving problems.
How we can help
Your GP is a good place to start. We can offer:
- Time to talk, and a careful assessment of what is going on.
- GP mental health treatment plans, which give you Medicare rebates for sessions with a psychologist or other mental health professional.
- Psychology on site. Peta Panaia, our psychologist, helps people with anxiety, depression, stress, anger, relationship issues and grief.
- Referrals to psychiatrists and other specialists when needed.
- Medicine, if it suits you, prescribed and reviewed carefully.
To see Peta Panaia, our psychologist, start with one of our GPs. Most people see her on a Mental Health Treatment Plan, and your GP refers you to her directly. Reception can tell you about her fees and the Medicare rebate.
Helpful resources
- Beyond Blue: support for anxiety and depression, and suicide prevention. Phone 1300 22 4636.
- Lifeline: 24-hour crisis support. Phone 13 11 14.
- Black Dog Institute: research-based resources on mood disorders.
- Amaze: information and support for autistic people and those around them.
- ADHD Australia: information and advocacy for adults with ADHD.