Feature Dr Louise Stone believes people who visit their GP for a mental health concern ‘should be able to expect compassionate care alongside practical advice’. Around 70% of people who sought treatment for their mental health in Australia in 2015–16 saw a GP. This amounts to 18 million dedicated mental health consultations . GPs are often the first point of contact for people concerned about their mental health. Mostly, though, mental health care occurs within consultations initiated for other reasons. This could be when someone sees a doctor for a physical health concern, a general check-up, or to get a prescription. Whatever the reason, GPs see 88% of the Australian population every year , putting us in a unique position in the health system to work with people with mental health concerns. When people visit their GP with a mental health concern, they should be able to expect compassionate […]