Psychologists are providing free and reduced rate treatment to mental health clients as a result of government cuts to Medicare-rebated psychology treatment sessions.

An Australian Psychological Society (APS) survey of more than 400 people with mental health problems accessing the Better Access to Mental Health Care sessions shows psychologists provided treatment free of charge to 17 per cent of those surveyed, and at a reduced rate to 32 per cent.

The survey comes after the Federal Government reduced the number of Medicare-rebated psychological sessions from 18, when it was first introduced in 2006, to 10 in January this year.

The APS survey also reveals psychology clients are missing out on essential treatment with almost a quarter of those surveyed forced to postpone their treatment until next year due to a lack of alternative sessions.

APS executive director Professor Lyn Littlefield said patients are missing out on vital treatment and were unable to be catered for by other services such as the Access to Allied Psychological Services program due to a cap on funding.

“These are people with moderate to severe presentations and it is estimated that there will be 33,000 people per year like this who will require more than the permitted 10 sessions for effective treatment,” she said.

“Obviously, psychologists are carrying the burden for the government’s cuts but this is not sustainable as a solution.”

The survey collected data on psychology clients, who at the end of their