The National LGBTI Health Alliance has commended Mental Health Minister, Mark Butler, for reinstating six additional therapy sessions for people referred by their GP.

“A number of Alliance members had stated their concern that the reduction of sessions to 10 could disadvantage LGBTI and other people”, reported Alliance General Manager, Warren Talbot.

“It is likely that LGBTI people, being referred by their GP to a psychologist, will have more complex and longer term mental health issues to deal with.

The cost of counselling has been identified as a major barrier to people accessing mental health care and that affordable counselling options is essential for improving the mental health status of LGBTI people”

“The challenge”, Mr Talbot said, “is what will happen in 2013 when the Better Access sessions will again be reduced to only 10.”

Mr Talbot said that the Alliance supported the Commonwealth’s goals in terms of capacity building for mental health services, but 2013 may not be a realistic timetable.