Australia’s 2025 Federal Budget: Boosting Women's Health, Mental Health Service Delays, and the Rise of Hypnotherapy as a Solution
- Mia Dalessandro
- Mar 29
- 3 min read
Key Take-aways
The 2025 Federal Budget includes significant investments in digital mental health services and women’s health, particularly targeting menopause and perimenopause.
Despite funding increases, mental health services face prolonged wait times, with patients waiting an average of 94 days for treatment.
Women’s health initiatives introduce Medicare rebates for menopause health assessments and expanded access to hormonal therapies.
Hypnotherapy is highlighted as a powerful alternative, providing timely and effective mental health support amidst systemic service delays.
Scientific research supports hypnotherapy’s success in treating anxiety, IBS, menopause symptoms, and chronic pain.
Compared to traditional therapies, hypnotherapy offers faster results and comparable long-term effectiveness, often with fewer sessions.
Hypnotherapy can help Australians overcome barriers to mental health access, offering a pathway to improved emotional and physical well-being.
Australia's 2025 Federal Budget has introduced several measures impacting mental health and women's health, particularly concerning menopause and perimenopause. While these initiatives aim to address critical health issues, the mental health sector continues to grapple with significant challenges, notably prolonged waiting times for services. In this context, hypnotherapy emerges as a viable alternative for individuals seeking timely and effective mental health support.
Mental Health Funding and Sector Feedback
The budget allocates $46 million for digital mental health services and $1.6 million for support services for Australians affected by the Israel-Hamas conflict. Despite these investments, mental health leaders have expressed disappointment over the lack of substantial new funding, especially given the increasing demand and systemic pressures. Out-of-pocket costs for mental health services remain high, further complicating access for many individuals.
Women's Health Initiatives
In a positive stride, the budget introduces a new Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments starting 1 July 2025, enabling women to receive care and support from their general practitioners. Additionally, $25.1 million is allocated to establish eight Centres of Training Excellence, aiming to equip healthcare professionals with the necessary skills to support women experiencing menopause and perimenopause. Furthermore, three new menopausal hormone therapies—Prometrium®, Estrogel®, and Estrogel® Pro—will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1 March 2025, marking the first new listings in over 20 years.
The Challenge of Mental Health Service Waiting Times
Accessing mental health services in Australia is increasingly challenging due to extended waiting periods. A cross-sectional survey revealed that the mean wait time across all treatment providers was approximately 94 days, with psychologists and psychiatrists being the most utilised services. Longer wait times were significantly associated with increased psychological distress, and many participants reported a deterioration in their mental health during the waiting period. Moreover, about 10% of patients with mental health-related conditions are spending more than 23 hours waiting in emergency departments.
How can hypnotherapy respond to the mental health crisis?
Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic technique that utilises guided relaxation, intense concentration, and focused attention to achieve a heightened state of awareness, often referred to as a trance. In this state, individuals can explore thoughts, feelings, and memories they might suppress in their conscious minds, allowing for positive behavioural changes and emotional healing.
Scientific Evidence Supporting Hypnotherapy
Research has supports hypnotherapy's credibility in treating various conditions:
Anxiety: Hypnotherapy has been shown to effectively manage anxiety disorders. When combined with cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), hypnotherapy can enhance treatment outcomes for anxiety and phobias.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Studies indicate that hypnotherapy can reduce IBS symptoms by up to 72%, alleviating abdominal pain, bloating, and nausea. Additionally, the benefits of hypnotherapy for IBS have been observed to last at least five years, suggesting its long-term effectiveness.
Menopause and Perimenopause: Clinical hypnosis has been found to significantly reduce hot flashes in postmenopausal women by more than 74%, compared to a 17% reduction in control groups. Furthermore, hypnotherapy has been effective in alleviating other menopausal symptoms, including brain fog and fatigue.
Pain Management: Hypnosis has shown positive effects in managing various pain conditions, with significant improvements reported in patients undergoing medical procedures and in paediatric populations.
Comparative Effectiveness of Hypnotherapy
When compared to traditional talk therapies, hypnotherapy often yields faster and more enduring results. For instance, a study comparing hypnotherapy to cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) found that hypnotherapy was not inferior to CBT after six months of treatment, indicating comparable efficacy. Additionally, hypnotherapy has been associated with higher success rates over fewer sessions compared to other therapeutic approaches.
By offering a scientifically validated, efficient, and accessible alternative, hypnotherapy addresses the pressing need for timely mental health support, especially in the face of extended waiting periods and high out-of-pocket costs associated with conventional services.
While the 2025 Federal Budget introduces commendable initiatives in women's health, particularly concerning menopause and perimenopause, the mental health sector continues to face significant challenges, notably extended waiting times and high out-of-pocket costs. In this landscape, hypnotherapy stands out as a scientifically backed, efficient, and accessible alternative for individuals seeking relief from conditions such as anxiety and IBS. By considering hypnotherapy, Australians can potentially bypass the barriers of traditional mental health services and embark on a path toward improved well-being.
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