The Role of Disability Service Providers in Supporting Mental Health

Introduction

We recently posted an article describing the role of SIL providers in supporting mental health. Here, we look beyond SIL providers to the other supports which NDIS participants often have around them.

At Hope Circle, we recognize the importance of our clients and NDIS participants moving toward their positive future including good mental health and wellbeing, often living in SIL housing.

As a SIL disability services provider, we support people across the mental health spectrum; and from our experience, we see different levels of mental health support or intervention based on the severity of mental health conditions:

  1. Health and lifestyle supports for diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health conditions;
  2. NDIS-funded psychosocial disability supports; and
  3. Justice system related forensic mental health supports.

In our recent article describing the role of SIL providers in supporting mental health, we reflected on the significant percentage of Australians who experience a mental disorder at some time in their life; and we also recognized the mainstream health services which exist to support individuals with mental health challenges.

Within the NDIS, participants with psychosocial disability will receive funded supports to assist them on this pathway; and participants with forensic backgrounds may have further forensic mental health supports.

Non-SIL NDIS Provider Supports for Mental Health

Besides the work of a SIL provider and depending on your NDIS plan funding, there is usually funding allocated for supports and services from other NDIS disability service providers to assist you with your mental health. This could include the following.

  1. Support Coordination – support coordinators assist in accessing different services, both within and outside of the NDIS. NDIS participants with mental health conditions may struggle to navigate these complexities and so a support coordinator will help connecting participants with appropriate services, and to make the most of funded supports.
  2. Psychosocial Recovery Coaching – additional to support coordination, this is designed to assist participants in setting and achieving personal goals. Psychosocial recovery coaches can provide guidance and strategies to help build resilience and develop coping skills for everyday life.
  3. Therapy Supports – this includes access to mental health professionals, occupational therapists, psychologists, and counsellors, ensuring participants receive the necessary right therapy to manage or improve their condition.
  4. Behaviour Support Practitioner – mental health challenges can influence behaviour so supporting mental health is an integral part of behaviour support planning. An effective plan will include strategies for maintaining mental wellbeing, like scheduled routines, choice-making, and calm down techniques.
  5. Drug and alcohol services – where mental health relates to alcohol, tobacco and other drug issues, other agencies such as DASSA (within South Australia) can provide supports.
  6. Employment and Skills Development – where possible and for participants wanting and able to work, this assists with job readiness, skill-building, and employment support, providing participants with access to meaningful work which is often a positive contributor to mental health.

Where a participant has elected to have an external or independent disability support worker, the access they provide to community participation can also be a positive influence on mental health.

In addition, individuals requiring mental health supports or with psychosocial disability may also access other mainstream and non-NDIS supports such as through the health or corrections systems. This can include health/GP, psychiatry and forensic mental health.

Hope Circle’s Approach

NDIS supported independent living providers like Hope Circle work with other providers to support client mental health, enhance independence, social participation, and overall well-being.

At Hope Circle, we encourage our staff and support workers to see the person and not the mental health condition, providing a dignity of risk within their decision making.

COO Heath Nash says, “at Hope Circle, our role puts the client in the centre of their circle of supports with family/guardian, ourselves, support coordinator, allied health, mental health, drug & alcohol services and behaviour support practitioners providing wrap around supports.”

Want more?

Hope Circle is a registered NDIS provider specialising in providing SIL and in-home & community support to individuals with complex disabilities.

Our team has extensive experience working with NDIS participants who have corrections or forensic histories, mental health and physical disabilities.

If you feel that your current SIL provider is not meeting your needs, then remember that you have the right to switch providers at any time. We can help ensure a smooth transition to new supports and services.

For more information regarding our services in Adelaide or Perth, please contact us here.