If you’ve been struggling with your mental health lately, a new free service could help. Medicare Mental health screening launched earlier this year to give more Australians access to mental health care.
The idea behind early intervention programs like this is simple: address mental health problems early, before they get worse.
But do these kinds of programs really help? And will it work for all Australians?
Bite-sized CBT online or over the phone
Medicare Mental Health Check In is a digital service that offers what is known as low-intensity cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. CBT is a widely studied form of talking therapy that helps people change unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior.
“Low intensity” does not mean that the treatment is reduced. It means sessions are shorter, delivered online or over the phone and led by trained professionals such as advisors and not necessarily with psychologists.
Medicare mental health screening
The Mediare Mental Health Check In is free, available to any Australian aged 16 and over and you don’t need a referral or diagnosis.
You first call 1800 595 212 for an initial chat with a trained professional. They will help you figure out if the program is right for you.
From there, you’re offered a six-week treatment plan tailored to what you’re experiencing, whether it’s low mood, anxiety or something else.
Screenshot from Medicare Mental Health Check In
Treatment plans combine digital tools with a trained coach who checks in regularly via video or phone.
From May, self-guided versions will also be available for people who prefer to work independently.
The agency is within the broader federal government Medicare mental health reforms designed to create a ‘stepped care’ model. This aims to match people with the right level of support, from self-paced digital programs to intensive face-to-face therapy.
What does the evidence say?
Low-intensity CBT can provides essential help to people with common mental health symptomssuch as anxiety and bad mood.
Similar services abroad have worked well. In 2024–25, the Talking Therapies Program of the UK National Health Service has helped nearly 100,000 people recover from mental disorders.
However, not everyone who receives help does. The NHS CBT program has a recovery rate of around 42% and an improvement rate of around 60%, meaning these people saw some benefits but still needed more support.
About 68% of Australians who used a similar program in the past – Beyond Blue’s NewAccess – we saw real improvements after about five CBT sessions.
If these figures hold for the Medicare program, for every 100,000 Australians who use the Medicare Mental Health Check In, most will receive some benefit.
But around 30,000–40,000 will need further treatment to substantially improve their mental health. That’s a lot of Australians returning to long waiting lists.
What about the self-guided option?
Self-guided digital mental health tools are coming to Medicare in May, but their benefit may be limited.
When more than 22,000 people used self-guided tools such as apps and websites, showed only small reductions in anxiety and depression. Fewer than one in ten people experienced any real benefit.
Researchers back one of the world’s largest studies of self-guided mental health tools we recommend that apps and websites be used only when there is no other option.
So please be aware that while some Australians will benefit from self-directed programmes, most people using the Medicare Mental Health Check In will need the support of a trained professional.
Will it be better than my AI chatbot?
Younger Australians may wonder if this service is better than the help they already have in their pocket. Around one in eight teenagers and young adults in the United States use AI chatbots such as ChatGPT for mental health support, with the vast majority finding AI therapists helpful.
The appeal is obvious: AI is free, available at 2am. and he doesn’t judge you.
But chatbots are not therapists. These cannot reliably detect seizuresthey are not bound by regulations, even the latest models may provide harmful advice.
Medicare Mental Health Check In doesn’t offer the immediate back-and-forth of a chatbot. But it offers something a chatbot can’t: an evidence-based program designed by experts and supported by a caring human.
Medicare mental health screening
Who will the Mental Health Check In work best for?
This type of program works best for people with mild to moderate symptoms.
If you have more complex needs, are dealing with severe depression, debilitating anxiety or complex trauma, or are in a full blown crisis, you will likely need more intensive treatment with a psychologist or psychiatrist.
Digital services are not accessible to everyone. Older people, people in remote areas, lower income households and First Nations Australians are the most likely to be digitally blocked. A phone-based option helps, but doesn’t eliminate the gap.
Australia needs more mental health services. With long waiting lists for psychologists and a hospital system under pressure, a free evidence-based early intervention service is welcome. It won’t provide the right cure for everyone, but for Australians experiencing early signs of anxiety, stress or low mood, it could be a great first step towards mental wellbeing.
