Curtis Cloake is one of the estimated two million Australians who experience anxiety every year.

Key points: Under a mental health plan, patients are eligible to receive 10 sessions with only a partial Medicare rebate

Under a mental health plan, patients are eligible to receive 10 sessions with only a partial Medicare rebate The Australian Psychological Society average charge by members is about $260 an hour

The Australian Psychological Society average charge by members is about $260 an hour Mental health items on Medicare are currently under review with recommendations expected later this year

His anxiety started in puberty, but it was not until the 18-year-old moved from Byron Bay to Sydney at the end of last year to start film school that it became overwhelming.

"It got to the point where I couldn't do anything. I couldn't study, I could barely sleep, and it started to ruin my life. I had to move home," he said.

Once he returned home he started seeing a psychologist with positive results.

But he found that even though his GP had put him on a mental health plan which gave him access to 10 sessions with a Medicare rebate, he was still left substantially out of pocket.

"Even with a rebate it can still add up to be over $100 if you're seeing someone twice a week, as I was, to really get on top of my anxiety," he said.

I don't have that money, and now I'm at the stage where I can't work and I can't move on because healthcare is way too expensive."

Mr Cloake saw a number of other young people in the region struggling with mental health issues and unable to afford a psychologist, so he started a petition calling on the Federal Government to introduce free therapy for youth under the age of 25.

The petition attracted over 40,000 signatures in a week, many from parents who see their own children struggling with the cost of mental health treatment.

Mental Health Commissioner backs petition

Mr Cloake's petition comes as the New South Wales Mental Health Commissioner is finishing up a tour of regional centres aimed at finding ways to better tailor services to different communities.

Commissioner Catherine Lourey said she supported Mr Cloake's petition.

"I think it's a great suggestion. I think the issue really is not only affordability, but really understanding that 50 per cent of mental health issues emerge before someone is aged 16," she said.

"As this young man points out, if there is an obstacle or a barrier to doing that it totally changes how they engage with mental health services and it really affects their whole life journey."

The NSW Mental Health Commission held workshops in regional areas to investigate what is and isn't working with services. ( Supplied )

Clinicians say rebate needs to be increased

Child and adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg said patients unable to afford ongoing psychology treatment was an issue he frequently saw in his practice.

Under a mental health plan, patients are eligible to receive 10 sessions with a Medicare rebate of either $84.80 for a generalist registered psychologist or $124.50 for a clinical psychologist.

But many professionals charge double that amount.

"It's not a matter that psychologists are charging too much, the rebates are too low. They're pathetic," Dr Carr-Gregg said.

"If you look at the Australian Psychological Society average charge, which is about $260 an hour, there's just no way the Medicare rebate comes anywhere near meeting that.

"We need to change the rebate."

Dr Carr-Gregg is also opposed to a 10-session ration, which can only be extended with another trip to the GP.

"If you had cancer, no-one's going to going to say 'look, you can only have 10 or 12 sessions'," he said.

While Dr Carr-Gregg is supportive of the work youth mental health organisation Headspace is doing across the country, he said it was not the magic bullet.

"Even though we've created Headspace, unfortunately what happens is there aren't enough, and the psychologist there will see you and then perhaps there will a three or four or five-week waiting list for that, so it's just a complete mess," he said.

In a statement, Health Minister Greg Hunt said the Medicare Benefits Schedule, including mental health items, was currently under review with recommendations expected later this year.

Under funding announced in April, the Australian Government is spending $152 million to reduce wait times and improve the quality of services at Headspace.