The issue of time that Craig raised is an important one. To extend on this, I think that generation gaps are becoming much smaller as well. Whereas once they were divided into decades, it is now a matter of months where we see marked changes in behaviours between successive groups.

As a result we have family breakdowns. Vanishing are the role models, gone is the consistency. We have, instead, an artificial role model in the form of an endlessly ticking societal clock that drives us from one fleeting moment to the next.

Even our words and sentences are becoming rushed and excessively abbreviated to a kind of throw back reminiscent of 19th century field slaves. Text messages now pass as communication that resembles something more like hieroglyphics than the English language.

Children know more about American television than world history. Parents no longer bother to show up for teacher interviews and fails are now passes to appease the expected literacy rate demanded by a government refusing to adequately fund our schools.

Then our money-driven, overcrowded universities pump out professionals who are probably not fit for the pressures of a full time job.

In conclusion, I say the answer is simple... slow down. Introduce siestas to the work place, take time out for walks, go to the beach, work part time and earn less money, get a pet and spend time with it, and eat a well-balanced diet, cooked at home.

Atman makes a valid point: Recent suggestions by the Productivity COmmission that allied health professionals and nurses be given access to medicare type funding to irease efficiency of the system and partly off set the shortage of doctors are welcome.

They have of course been roundly rejected by the AMA but do have some support form amongst the more enlightened in the meidcal profession.

Similar moves have been put forwad on and off for years but always come up against the opposition of the Doctors Union - the forthcoming cabinet re shuffle will be interesting - if may throw up a new Minister for Health who is prepared to take the medicos on; we shall see. Abbot has been an abject failure on the post.

One may access psychiatrists through medicare but not psychologists. This is absurd. All psychiatrists do is offer medication, sit and listen and that's about all. Now I admit I am on anti-depressants and being listened is wonderful in the short term. However, psychology offers long term pro-active and effective treatment.

I have been on and off anti-depressants for years - while they assist with mood swings they are not addressing the issue of managing my abilities to cope with my perceptions and ways to deal with the real world - psychology is a great way to achieve living life as it is.

However, psychology is longer term; anti-depressants are quick-fix - which costs more? And there is your answer.

Scout

I think its different strokes for different folks.

The value of medication and use of psychiatrists and/or psychologists depends on the type of mental illness you have and the degree to which you can recognise your problem.

As I have severe bipolar (manic depression) which would require long term hospilisation if it were not for a long term (permanent) drug treatment, I just accept a generalisation that "anti-depressants are quick-fix". Maybe what you say is accurate for other illnesses but not the severe end were lithium and valproate are (literally) life savers for many depression sufferers.

At the severe end cognitive therapy (discussing the problem to realise you can think your way out of it) is not enough to handle chemical imbalances in the brain which need to be countered by medication.

My attempt to slowly wean myself off medication in the past (even with a positive outlook) met with disaster.

In my experience its difficult to find a psychiatrist who is approachable and not "a pillar of the establishment". It took me 20 years to find a decent one "on my wavelength". In terms of availability I've always been in severe medical need so psychiatrists have been fairly readily available and this is on Medicare.

I think that psychiatrists are very human in that they open doors to patients who are likely to respond positively to therapy. I've found that if I a read up about my illness and then discuss it with "my shrink" in an "objective" way this encourages the psychiatrist to want to help more than just a dry question and answer session followed by script writing.

So as you say "perception" (or insight), education, along with permanent medication (for me anyway) has kept me above water.

The range of mental illnesses and severities obviosly makes generalisations difficult.

Pete

Scout, Then following your reasoning, not only qualified Nurse Practioners, but Psycologists should also be covered by Medicare, I suppose next you will want Dentists covered by Medicare, if so I agree!

The situation of Pshcologists is pathetic, as you say they are the people you can sometimes teach you living and coping skills, however cannot write a prescription. They are Medical Professionals, why can't they be included under the Medicare banner?

Sneeky, The good money for Abbott's job is Dr. Nelson, the current Education Minister, doesn't that fill you with confidence, someone who will take on the doctors, I think not! He has destroyed Education, now he will be let loose to replicate his efforts in Health.

Wouldn't you have thought as Education Minister he would have increased the places for Doctors and Nurses and allied Health Professionals at Australian Universities, at James Cook University in Townsville, a small University, we had 900 applications to fill 83 Medical School places, when you have a world wide Doctor Shortage, and $11.5 billion in the bank, no new places at Uni, does that not tell people that something stinks....

Sadly Scout, medication for mental health is the cheap fix - the band-aid. There is a place for meds, however they should be used temporarily, if possible, whilst psychological help is being established. Alone they are only a partial fix; long term much more is needed. It is the same for diabetes and heart disease. In the same way as for mental health it is cheaper to dispense insulin and blood pressure tablets, yet evidence shows for both mental health and the aforementioned diseases that life-style changes, diet, exercise, various psychological therapies such as CBT, PCP, Gestalt, systematic desensitisation, are more effective and without side effects. Mostly money spent for psychology is well spent. However, because medication 'works' and is cheap it is offered. Therefore long term cures that psychology can offer, as Shonga intimates, are outside the reach of those without reasonable incomes. It may sound like I am saying that psychology has all the answers – I’m not because it dosn’t. In the same way that there are many determinants that contribute to disturbances in mental health – so too many ways can co-join to assist in a return to a state of equilibrium. However, I am suggesting that the benefits of psychology are worth trying to find funds for in any way that you can. Even 4-5 visits are better then nothing. If you shop around there are psychologists who charge realistic prices. I realise psychology may remain for the time being outside the reach of many – hang in there, do what you can yourself. Many people lobbying for changes, join in that fight. Mental health disturbances will effect most people (either directly or indirectly) at some time in their life – so it is everyone’s fight. Changes will eventually come if people don’t keep rolling over and accepting the current situation.

Good luck to you all – keep believing in yourselves and your own ability to overcome. Be proactive in the search, don’t accept that you are simply at the mercy of some drug whilst waiting for a ‘wonder drug’ to appear.