Mental Health Support NDIS, Psychosocial Disability and the NDIS

Mental health services are delivered across a range of settings by a variety of providers and funded in different ways. Navigating this service environment and understanding how it works with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can be challenging for people who live with a mental health condition and psychosocial disability, and the people who support them.

Philips Home care Mental Health and welling specialist focused mental health services and support.

What is mental health support NDIS?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an Australia-wide scheme that assists people with disability including, psychosocial disability. Health works closely with the NDIA to ensure our clients, their families and carers can make the most of the opportunities and services available through the NDIS.

Mental health system funds:

• Supports related to mental health that are clinical in nature, including acute, ambulatory and continuing care in the community, rehabilitation/recovery.
• Early intervention supports related to mental health that are clinical in nature, including supports that are clinical in nature and that are for child and adolescent developmental needs.
• Residential care where the primary purpose is for inpatient treatment or clinical rehabilitation, or where the services model primarily employs clinical staff.
• Supports relating to a co-morbidity with a psychiatric condition where the co-morbidity is clearly the responsibility of another service system (for example, treatment for a drug or alcohol issue).

What is psychosocial disability?

Psychosocial disability is a term used to describe a disability that may arise from a mental health issue. Philips home care support NDIS participants in Sydney, south west Sydney, Hunter New England regions.

Not everyone who has a mental health condition will have a psychosocial disability, but for people who do, it can be severe, longstanding and impact on their recovery. People with a disability as a result of their mental health condition may qualify for the NDIS

Evidence of psychosocial disability

You DO NOT require a diagnosis to access the NDIS. This is the law, as stated in the NDIS Act 2013. If a person has a diagnosis, it may help establish impairment or disability. If you apply for the NDIS, you will be asked to show you experience impairments likely to result in permanent disability. The National Disability Insurance Agency requires documentation from a health professional (usually your GP or treating psychiatrist).

This includes information or ‘evidence’ such as:

1. Your disability type – documented by a health professional
2. An assessment of the functional impact – for understanding the extent of functional impact and psychosocial disability it can be helpful for an allied health professional (e.g. occupational therapist, psychologist, social worker) to provide a functional impact assessment.
3. Information about the levels of support – an explanation of the supports you need, how often and for how long.

Some ways that carers could provide input include:

• Discussing with the participant the importance of including the support they provide in the plan
• Offering to attend the planning session with the participant
• Providing a carers statement

Mental health carers may like to consider:

• Talking with the person they care for about why their involvement is important
• Making an agreement about how they will be involved
• Making a plan for when the person they care for is unwell
• Letting the NDIA know about any formal or informal agreements or plans that have been made about their involvement
• Getting support from a mental health or advocacy organisation

Is depression covered under NDIS?

However mental illnesses – including schizophrenia, depression, and a range of other types of illness – do often have a long-term effect on a person’s ability to do these everyday activities. This is when their mental illness results in a psychosocial disability and the NDIS is needed.

Does NDIS cover mental health issues?

You must provide evidence of a mental health condition to access the NDIS, but the mental health condition does not have to be named. NDIS mental healthy support is based on the impairment, or the impact of the mental health condition, rather than the diagnosis itself. to apply for the NDIS stating you have a mental health condition.

Can you get NDIS for bipolar?

If you have enough evidence to suggest that your bipolar disorder has caused you to have a permanent psychosocial disability that causes significant impact on your day to day life, you may be accepted by the NDIS.

What is psychosocial disability?

Psychosocial disability is a term used to describe a disability that may arise from a mental health issue.

Not everyone who has a mental health condition will have a psychosocial disability, but for people who do, it can be severe, longstanding and impact on their recovery. People with a disability as a result of their mental health condition may qualify for the NDIS.