Mental Health and the NDIS
Mental Health Awareness Month is coming to an end, a very important month for Australians. One in five Australians aged 16-85 experience a mental illness in any year.[1] The most recent ABS National Health Survey estimated there were 4.8 million Australians with a mental or behavioural condition in 2017-18. This shows an increase of 2.6% from 2014-2015. With mental health conditions on the rise, we must help raise awareness and reduce stigma. It is an issue our country cannot afford to ignore with mental ill-health costing Australia $60 billion a year.[2]
It is important to think about how mental health relates to disability. Psychosocial disability is a term used to describe a disability that may arise from a mental health issue. Not everyone with a mental health condition has a psychosocial disability. For people who do, it can be severe, longstanding and impact on their recovery. Those with psychosocial disability may be eligible for the NDIS.
The NDIS funds supports that help a participant undertake activities of daily living including:
assistance with planning and decision making and household tasks,
assistance to build capacity to live independently and achieve their goals and;
supports to participate in community activities.
Individuals need to provide evidence from a clinician and support worker to receive funding for psychosocial disability in the NDIS. The NDIS does not provide complete support for people with psychosocial disability. The health and mental health systems are responsible for clinical and medical treatment.
After the introduction of the NDIS, there were various concerns around mental health. Some people with severe mental health issues may not be eligible for the NDIS. The full roll out of the scheme will only support 64, 000 people with psychosocial disability.[3] This leaves 91% of people with severe mental illness relying on non-NDIS community health services for support.
The government has taken measures to address these concerns. In the 2017-18 budget the Australian Government committed $80 million over four years for the National Psychosocial Support (NPS-M) measure. This will support those who are unable to access the NDIS. The Australian and state and territory governments also committed to ensuring continuity of support for those who previously received funding.
In the last Disability Reform Council meeting in June, various commitments were made regarding mental health and the NDIS. Council members made a commitment to improve access and experiences for participants with psychosocial disability in the NDIS. They also made a commitment to address interface issues between the NDIS and mainstream health systems. The council welcomed the establishment of a Psychosocial Disability Recovery Framework. This will strongly focus on recovery and supporting episodic needs.
Australia has a long way to go in addressing mental health for everyone. It is positive to see government initiatives to help those with severe mental health issues through the NDIS and other programs. More still needs to be done to help those who are ‘falling through the cracks’ and struggle to access support. Mental Health Awareness month is only one month a year. We should continue raising awareness throughout the year and lend a hand to those struggling with mental health.
[1] Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2009). National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of Results, 4326.0, 2007. ABS: Canberra.
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