The responses to the online survey of GPs, psychiatrists, paediatricians and allied health providers were reflective of the issues identified through stakeholder interviews. Attachment 1 details the survey responses received. Table 4 below summarises the survey responses in respect to improvements in access to mental health services as a result of the Better Access initiative.
In relation to availability of service, almost 90 per cent of all Better Access initiative providers (GPs, psychiatrists and AHPs) reported more allied health services in the community. The impact on GP services was less marked, with almost 55 per cent perceiving an increase in GPs providing mental health services and more than one-third perceiving no increase in GP provision of mental health services. Only 15 per cent of respondents thought the Better Access initiative had contributed to psychiatrists being more accessible, with half of GPs and one-third of AHPs not perceiving psychiatrists as being more accessible as a result of the Better Access initiative.
The population groups for whom most respondents agree access had improved are reflective of the Better Access initiative target group, with 96 per cent of respondents agreeing access had improved for individuals with anxiety and depression related disorders.
Most (more than 70 per cent) of all GP, psychiatrist and AHP respondents also agree that access had improved for children and young people and older people. The level of agreement about improvements in access for older people is interesting relative to the numerous comments about constraints of providing services to this group of individuals in the community.
A key area of difference in GP and AHP perceptions was in relation to improved access for individuals with a substance abuse disorder. Sixty-two per cent of AHPs agreed that this group experienced improved access compared to 36 per cent of GPs. In all, half of respondents agreed access to mental health services had improved for individuals with substance abuse disorders.
There was not a strong perception that the Better Access initiative had resulted in more services for people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities or improved access for individuals from these communities. Only one-quarter of respondents agreed there were more services and one-third that access had improved.
Almost two-thirds of all respondents were unsure whether access to mental health services had improved for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the Better Access initiative and three-quarters were unsure of any improvements in access for residents or remote communities. The high uncertainty is an artefact of few respondents from rural and remote communities.
Table 4: Summary of GP and AHP survey responses in relation to the Better Access initiative
Table 4 is separated into 3 smaller tables in this HTML version for accessibility reasons. It is presented as one table in the PDF version.Top of pageTable 4a: Summary of survey responses of allied health providers
| Do you agree Better Access has contributed to: | Agree | Disagree | Unsure | Valid N |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| More allied health professionals providing mental health services in the community | 90% | 2% | 8% | 412 |
| More GPs providing mental health services | 54% | 9% | 37% | 414 |
| Psychiatrists being more accessible | 15% | 33% | 51% | 410 |
| More culturally and linguistically diverse mental health services | 26% | 15% | 59% | 414 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for people with anxiety or depression related disorders | 97% | 1% | 2% | 418 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for children and young people | 72% | 4% | 24% | 417 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for older people (i.e. those aged 65 years) | 72% | 5% | 23% | 415 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for people with substance use disorders | 62% | 7% | 31% | 413 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for people living in rural communities | 38% | 10% | 53% | 413 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds | 37% | 9% | 54% | 416 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people | 20% | 14% | 66% | 415 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for people living in remote communities | 15% | 14% | 71% | 415 |
Table 4b: Summary of survey responses of GPs, psychiatrists and paediatricians
| Do you agree Better Access has contributed to: | Agree | Disagree | Unsure | Valid N |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| More allied health professionals providing mental health services in the community | 83% | 5% | 12% | 203 |
| More GPs providing mental health services | 53% | 14% | 33% | 193 |
| Psychiatrists being more accessible | 15% | 50% | 35% | 147 |
| More culturally and linguistically diverse mental health services | 24% | 20% | 56% | 185 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for people with anxiety or depression related disorders | 95% | 2% | 3% | 199 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for children and young people | 67% | 9% | 23% | 196 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for older people (i.e. those aged 65 years) | 67% | 10% | 24% | 198 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for people with substance use disorders | 36% | 28% | 35% | 192 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for people living in rural communities | 29% | 10% | 60% | 191 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds | 22% | 16% | 62% | 196 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people | 21% | 13% | 66% | 188 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for people living in remote communities | 12% | 12% | 76% | 189 |
Table 4c: Summary of survey responses to both surveys
| Do you agree Better Access has contributed to: | Agree | Disagree | Unsure | Valid N |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| More allied health professionals providing mental health services in the community | 87% | 3% | 9% | 615 |
| More GPs providing mental health services | 54% | 10% | 36% | 607 |
| Psychiatrists being more accessible | 15% | 38% | 47% | 557 |
| More culturally and linguistically diverse mental health services | 25% | 17% | 58% | 599 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for people with anxiety or depression related disorders | 96% | 1% | 2% | 617 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for children and young people | 71% | 6% | 23% | 613 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for older people (i.e. those aged 65 years) | 70% | 6% | 23% | 613 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for people with substance use disorders | 54% | 14% | 32% | 605 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for people living in rural communities | 35% | 10% | 55% | 604 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds | 32% | 11% | 56% | 612 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people | 21% | 14% | 66% | 603 |
| Making mental health services more accessible for people living in remote communities | 14% | 14% | 73% | 604 |