Almost half of Australian adults will be affected by mental illness at some point in their life, and one in five will experience a mental-health illness each year.

Some people’s mental wellbeing is at greater risk than others. Women are more likely to experience distress than men, and Indigenous Australians and LGBTIQA+ people rate their mental health as poorer than other groups.

One in three adults consider themselves moderately lonely and one in six report severe loneliness.

A general practitioner is often the first port of call to discuss mental-health concerns and they will help you access up to 10 Medicare-subsidised sessions with a mental-health professional each year. But private health insurance can also provide extra support and services.

Here are six ways that HCF health cover supports mental health.

1. Increased access to GPs

HCF has a partnership with an online GP service, GP2U. All HCF members can access a 10-minute consultation for A$50.

2. Help to prioritise mental health

Regular mental-health check-ups are just as important as physical ones.

HCF offers a free PSYCH2U HealthyMinds Check-in* and provides eligible members with a yearly, one-on-one telehealth consultation with a PSYCH2U psychologist per calendar year to help you understand if you’re experiencing challenges such as stress, grief, anxiety and depression.

3. Help to manage anxiety

Three million Australians are affected by anxiety. You can seek support through PSYCH2U and online programs such as This Way Up^ that offers online cognitive behavioural therapy. HCF members may be able to claim the cost of these programs with their extras cover.

HCF has a partnership with Sleepfit giving eligible members free 12-month access to the Sleepfit app, which offers evidence-based sleep assistance.

4. Support for depression

Depression affects as many as one in seven Australians in their lifetime.

HCF members with eligible extras cover can claim an HCF-approved consultation with a psychologist, a counsellor and accredited mental-health social worker.

5. Change your drinking habits

Alcohol is a depressant that can reduce our capacity to address problems that are impacting our mental and physical health.

Seeking help through tools like the Daybreak app from Hello Sunday Morning, along with government-funded support services, may help manage alcohol consumption.

HCF members may also have access to additional mental-health support.

6. Support for kids

One in seven children also experience mental-health challenges. Eligible HCF members who have hospital or extras cover, and children aged between four and 11, can access Calm Kid Central. It has interactive activities and resources, along with expert advice for parents, including anonymous online access to a child psychologist, who will answer your questions within 48 hours.

HCF offers a holistic approach for eligible members, so they can choose what treatment program they want, depending on their health needs.

HCF is the health insurance partner of CA ANZ Member Benefits Program. Click here to find out more.

*HealthyMinds Check-in available per member per calendar year. Service is available free to all members with hospital cover. Excludes Extras Only Cover, Ambulance Only, Accident Only Basic and Overseas Visitors Health Cover.

^ You should make your own enquiries to determine whether this service is suitable for you. If you decide to use this service, it’ll be on the basis that HCF won’t be responsible, and you won’t hold HCF responsible, for any liability that may arise from that use.

# Eligibility criteria apply. For more information see hcf.com.au/sleepfit.

+ If you don’t have a Medicare mental health treatment plan, or you’ve used it up.

** You should not rely on the content on this article to decide whether to use this service. You should make your own enquiries or seek medical advice to determine whether this service is suitable for you.