A Guide to Mental Health Disability Support

What mental health supports are covered by NDIS? 

Not everyone with a mental health condition will qualify for NDIS support. The NDIS provides funding for people who have a psychosocial disability that is likely to be lifelong. It’s also based on the impact of the mental health condition, not the diagnosis. 

The NDIS is designed to provide ongoing psychosocial recovery support that helps improve a person’s functional capacity. This includes supports that enable people with psychosocial disability to:

• Increase their ability
• Improve their levels of independence to undertake daily living activities
• Participate in their community, both socially and economically

It’s important to note that the NDIS does not replace mental health services or treatments. This remains the responsibility of the health care system. 

It’s also recommended that disability support providers, health care services and the NDIS all work together to ensure tailored continuity of support for individuals.  

You can learn more about NDIS eligibility for psychosocial support on their website. 

What is a psychosocial disability?

So what exactly is psychosocial disability? It's a term that describes a disability that stems from a mental health condition. When a mental illness significantly impacts someone's ability to fully engage in society, it's considered a psychosocial disability. This can affect various aspects of life, such as completing daily tasks, forming relationships, or pursuing education and employment.

Advocacy and stigma about mental health

Psychosocial disability makes up the fourth largest primary disability group among NDIS participants. Despite this, it’s largely misunderstood. 

Jen, Hireup’s mental health advisor, believes that when people discriminate against or stigmatise those with mental health conditions, it usually comes from a lack of understanding and education.

“People [with mental health conditions] are often dismissed and not listened to because they’re deemed unwell,” Jen explains. “Stigma has a huge impact on how people understand what it’s truly like to live with a mental health condition. When someone is experiencing something like psychosis, it’s just part of their disability and can be managed with the right support at the right time.”  

“The stigma surrounding this leads to the misconception that people don’t have valuable insights and can negatively impact the road to recovery. In reality, the individual is actually the expert in their lives, regardless of whether they’re mentally unwell or not. They've lived through many periods of being unwell.” 

It can feel taboo and uncomfortable to talk about things like mental health and psychosocial disability. But Jen implores us to shake off our discomfort and try by having open conversations to raise awareness. These conversations will assist in breaking down stigma and therefore prompting people to seek assistance sooner.  

For more information on psychosocial disability, Jen recommends checking out these resources: 

• SANE Australia
• Understanding how the NDIS works: Psychosocial disability 

The importance of holistic care 

At Hireup, we believe it’s important to look at the whole person and not just their disability. As part of Jen’s role, she takes a person-centred approach, working closely with team members to assess client’s individual needs, review wellness plans, crisis management plans, and provide complex care guidance and referral pathways.

“I like looking at not just mental health support, but overall wellbeing,” Jen shares. “We provide day-to-day community support while also promoting the clinical aspects in the peripheral. And when all these elements work together effectively, we start to see real improvements in individuals.” 

“Ultimately, it’s a person-is-the-point approach.”

Jen stresses that mental health recovery isn’t always linear; individuals can progress quickly but might also take a few steps sideways or even back, depending on what’s happening in their lives. So, alongside team members, Jen often reviews caseloads, checking in and assessing clients support on the Hireup platform.  

There is consultation with clients, family members and clinical teams, including psychologists and behaviour support practitioners.