Guide To Navigating Disability Supports And Funding For People With Mental Health Challenges

 

Do you wish to avail yourself of the supports and funding offered by the NDIS for mental health challenges but are confused about how to go about it? Rest assured, as Complete Connect has got the answer for you!

 

Acquiring funds for mental health issues can sometimes be complicated, but as Complete Connect is a registered NDIS provider, you should not hesitate to trust their expertise.

 

Requirements to avail support and funding

1. Find out if you are eligible

The first and foremost step is to find out if you are eligible to acquire funds and supports under the mental health category. For that, you can check the NDIS Eligibility checklist. It is also essential for you to note that the NDIS only funds cases that are ‘Reasonable and Necessary’; therefore, make sure that you lie in that category before applying for support.

2. Provide evidence about your mental health condition

Once you have confirmed your eligibility, the next step is to gather and provide evidence for it. It is not mandatory for you to possess a mental health diagnosis by healthcare professionals to qualify for NDIS funds; however, you must provide evidence of the difficulties you are facing in your everyday life due to your health conditions. The following forms have to be filled out to give this evidence:

 

1. a) The ‘Evidence of Psychosocial Disability Form’
2. b) The ‘Access Request Form.’

 

These forms have to be filled out by the participants’ support provider or therapist/psychologist. To provide further evidence regarding their mental health condition, NDIS participants can take assistance from healthcare professionals to undergo a ‘Functional Assessment’ which includes:

 

1. a) Life Skill Profile 16
2. b) World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS)

 

Through these assessments, the NDIS determines participants’ overall abilities and skills and how well they can respond to the stimuli in the environment. Participants can also submit a personal statement to the NDIS written by their family, friends, or carers confirming the obstacles they face in their day-to-day activities.

3. Ensure that you meet some additional conditions too

The participants must meet some additional specifications to qualify for the NDIS funds. The participant must:

 

1. a) Be an Australian citizen or have a Special Category Visa.
2. b) Be less than 65 years old when applying for NDIS funds.
3. c) Live within the area where NDIS offers its services.
4. d) Have reduced functional capabilities when it comes to communication, social interactions, learning, self-care, and self-management.

4. Transform your challenges into measurable goals

Once you have confirmed that you are eligible to qualify for the NDIS funds, you need to transform your day-to-day challenges into goals that you can achieve with the help of NDIS. For example, if you have difficulty meeting new people due to social anxiety, then your goal must be to ‘interact with at least 2 people I have never met before within this week.’

 

Mental health supports offered by the NDIS:

1. NDIS encourages participants to participate in community and group activities so they feel less isolated.
2. They offer participants with emotional support in the form of daily life assistance.
3. They encourage participants to learn new skills so they can feel a sense of achievement.
4. They offer residential care to in-patient treatment.
5. They help participants manage themselves independently so they can feel that their life has a valuable purpose.
6. They help participants with psychosocial recovery coaching.
7. They help participants establish their careers so that they feel productive and do not consider themselves a burden or responsibility to others.

 

 

In case of further questions and queries regarding the mental health supports and services offered by the NDIS, feel free to contact one of Australia’s most trusted NDIS providers, Complete Connect. Their expert and knowledgeable staff will provide you with as much assistance as you require and take you through the step-by-step process of acquiring funds and support as per your mental health conditions.