Mental health
Talk to an online GP about your mental health
You can talk to a HerDoc GP about anxiety, low mood, stress, burnout or sleep concerns. The GP will listen, ask about what has changed and discuss what next steps may fit your circumstances.
Can I talk to an online GP about mental-health concerns?
Yes. You do not need to know the name of a condition before speaking with a GP. Talk through what you have noticed, how long it has been happening and how it is affecting sleep, work, relationships or day-to-day life.
Online GP appointments for women
Book online, then speak by phone with an AHPRA-registered Australian GP.
GP care that fits women's lives
HerDoc supports general health, women's health and life-stage concerns, where telehealth is suitable.
How it works
Book online
Choose an appointment time that suits you.
Speak with an Australian GP
Talk by phone with an AHPRA-registered doctor. Your GP can provide advice and, where clinically appropriate, discuss prescriptions, certificates, referrals, pathology requests or follow-up guidance during the appointment.
Often suitable for
- General health and mental wellbeing
- Women's health, menopause and perimenopause
- Medication advice and prescriptions
- Medical certificates, referrals and pathology requests
Not for urgent care
HerDoc is not for emergencies, crisis support or symptoms that need immediate hands-on care.
- Chest pain, breathing difficulty or severe symptoms
- Sudden or rapidly worsening symptoms
- Mental health crisis or risk of harm
- Symptoms that need a physical examination
For urgent or severe symptoms, call 000 or seek emergency care.
Concerns you can bring to the appointment
Mental-health experiences can have more than one cause. A GP may ask about physical health, medicines, alcohol or other drug use, recent events and the support you already have so they can form a broader picture.
These examples are not a checklist or a diagnosis. If you are concerned about a change in how you feel, think or function, it is reasonable to speak with a GP.
- persistent worry, fear or feeling on edge
- low mood, loss of interest or changes in motivation
- stress that feels difficult to manage
- work-related exhaustion or possible burnout
- trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or functioning during the day
- changes in concentration, appetite, energy or daily routines
What to expect
HerDoc launches with phone consultations. Before paying, choose a short or long consultation. During intake, select mental health as the reason for the appointment and answer the questions that follow. An Australian GP will then call you by phone.
The GP may ask when the concern began, whether it comes and goes, what makes it better or worse and how it affects daily life. They may also ask about your medical history, current medicines, substance use, safety and any support you have already tried.
A HerDoc GP can assess whether a referral or Mental Health Treatment Plan is appropriate and prepare one where the consultation and current requirements support it. A plan may take more than one consultation. If follow-up is required, book another paid consultation; you can choose the same GP. HerDoc delivers a referral or plan provided by the GP electronically.
Who can use HerDoc
Adults can consent for themselves. For a patient under 18, a parent or guardian may need to be involved, or the GP must be satisfied that the young person has enough maturity and understanding to consent. HerDoc may recommend another service if consent, capacity or telehealth suitability cannot be established.
When telehealth may not be suitable
- Concerns needing physical examination
- Symptoms needing urgent local assessment
- Care that cannot be assessed adequately by phone
When to seek urgent care
HerDoc is not an emergency or crisis service. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, may act on thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or cannot stay safe, call Triple Zero (000) or go to the nearest emergency department now.
- Immediate danger or inability to stay safe
- Possible suicide or self-harm action
- Risk of serious harm to another person
- Severe confusion or dangerous behaviour
Ready to talk when HerDoc launches?
Join the waiting list for updates about access to HerDoc's online GP service. Joining does not book a consultation and is not a way to seek urgent help.
Related pages
FAQs
Can I talk to an online GP about mental health concerns?
Yes. You can describe changes in mood, worry, stress, sleep, behaviour or daily functioning, even if you are unsure what is causing them. The GP can assess the information available and discuss next steps.
What mental-health concerns can I discuss online?
You can discuss concerns such as anxiety, low mood, stress, burnout, sleep changes, concentration or how you are coping. Whether an online appointment can meet your needs depends on the circumstances and the GP's assessment.
Can I discuss anxiety or low mood with an online GP?
Yes. Talk through what you have noticed, how long it has been present and how it affects your life. You do not need to decide whether it is anxiety, depression or something else before the appointment.
Can an online GP help with stress or burnout?
A GP can discuss stress, its effects and whether work or other pressures may be contributing. Burnout specifically refers to an occupational phenomenon, so the GP will also consider whether another mental or physical health concern could explain the symptoms.
Can I talk to a GP online about sleep problems?
Yes. You can discuss trouble falling asleep, waking during the night, waking too early, daytime tiredness or other sleep changes. Snoring, gasping, breathing pauses or marked daytime sleepiness may require assessment or testing beyond an online appointment.
What will the GP ask during a mental-health consultation?
The GP may ask about symptoms, timing, daily life, medical history, medicines, substance use, recent events and available support. They may also ask direct questions about safety; honest answers help them understand what support is needed.
Can an online GP diagnose a mental-health condition?
A treating GP decides what can be assessed in an online appointment and whether more information or face-to-face care is needed. HerDoc cannot promise that any particular diagnosis will be made during one consultation.
Can the GP discuss treatment, referrals or a mental-health treatment plan?
Yes. A HerDoc GP can discuss treatment options and assess whether a referral or Mental Health Treatment Plan is appropriate. A plan is not automatic, current requirements must be met, and it may take more than one consultation. Each follow-up is a new paid consultation, and you can book with the same GP.
Is an online mental-health consultation private?
HerDoc handles health information under its privacy policy and applicable Australian privacy obligations. Privacy is not absolute: information may sometimes be used or disclosed where authorised or required by law, including in response to a serious threat to health or safety.
When do mental-health symptoms need urgent or in-person help?
Get immediate help if someone is in danger, cannot stay safe, may harm themselves or another person, or has severe confusion or dangerous behaviour. Other concerns may need prompt in-person review when symptoms are rapidly worsening, physical examination is needed or an online assessment is not enough.