The Role of SIL Providers in Supporting Mental Health
Understanding Mental Health in relation to Disability
We recognize the importance of our clients and NDIS participants moving toward their positive future including good mental health and wellbeing.
At Hope Circle, we support people living with disability 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:
- Health and lifestyle supports for diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health conditions;
- NDIS-funded psychosocial disability supports; and
- Justice system related forensic mental health supports.
In Australia, 42.9% of people aged 16–85 years have experienced a mental disorder at some time in their life; and 21.5% had experienced this in the past 12-months. That’s according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing in 2024.
Whilst a range of mainstream health services exist to support individuals with mental health challenges, individuals experiencing serious effects of mental health which create functional impairment can be eligible to access supports under the NDIS.
The NDIS refers to psychosocial disability as the term to describe a disability that may arise from a mental health issue. According to the NDIS, while everyone living with a mental health condition may be impacted by their condition, not everyone who has a mental health condition will experience psychosocial disability.
Whilst a good SIL provider can make a real difference to a client’s mental health and wellbeing, there are also other supports and services available under the NDIS to support an individual’s mental health.
SIL Supports for Positive Mental Health
At Hope Circle, we support our clients to move towards their positive future, building hope for the future while respecting their dignity of risk. This includes considering our client’s mental health as well as their physical health, through the way we provide our supported independent living supports and services.
Even if a participant does not have a diagnosed mental health condition, Hope Circle’s supports and services can assist a client’s mental health through accessing community and social or recreational activities that help them to live a healthy and active lifestyle.
This can include meaningful engagement and participation in the community or employment, communication and involvement in decision-making which affects their life, GP or allied health appointments and lifestyle support.
We support and affirm the individual’s identity and purpose as part of them living the life they want.
At Hope Circle, we don’t stigmatise substance abuse or mental health and we work proactively with organisations who support drug and alcohol rehabilitation, community mental health and Aboriginal health services, recognizing that each person’s journey is unique.
SIL Provider Supports with Psychosocial Disability
NDIS participants and clients who have serious diagnosed mental health conditions (such as schizophrenia) which create functional impairment often receive funding that recognizes this within their NDIS Plan.
NDIS Plans for people with psychosocial disability will generally include core funding for supports from disability support workers (i.e. supported independent living or in-home and community support); and may also include other allied health and psychosocial recovery coaching supports.
Disability support workers through organisations like Hope Circle can support you with these services include the following:
1. Daily Living Assistance – many individuals with psychosocial disabilities require support with daily activities, such as personal care, meal preparation, household tasks, attending medical and other appointments, medication administration and reminders. A good SIL provider will help participants develop the skills necessary for independent living.
2. Community and Social Participation – engaging with the community is vital for mental well-being. A good SIL provider will facilitate social and recreational activities, helping participants build confidence, friendships, and a sense of belonging.
Given likely interactions with other mental health NDIS supports (psychosocial recovery coaching, community mental health, therapy etc), Hope Circle staff work with clients to support access to these supports and services.
SIL Provider Supports with Forensic Services
Working with clients who have forensic histories has added complexities and disability service providers working in this area need skills and experience to do this successfully, working within an imperfect system.
The NDIS Review acknowledged that “the NDIS does not have an integrated complex care approach with the public mental health system. This means [NDIS] participants are more likely to experience unnecessarily long stays in hospital, have inadequate supports to transition and live in the community, and are therefore at greater risk of returning to hospital or correctional facilities.”
At Hope Circle, we work with clients who have complex needs, past trauma histories and treatment resistant mental health conditions. This includes clients who are interacting with the justice system.
There are differences between normal SIL services and SIL that is provided in a forensic context. We’ve addressed this in more detail in a blog that talks about these key differences in NDIS forensic services.
Hope Circle’s Approach
As well as mainstream disability services, NDIS SIL providers like Hope Circle are able to provide a range of services to support your mental health, enhance independence, social participation, and overall well-being.
Having the right disability support services provider that understands your needs can help support you to live the life you want to live. At Hope Circle, we encourage our staff and support workers to see the person and not the mental health condition or the drug use or crime.
In fact, it’s part of our core identity that we work to help our clients live the life they want to lead. We work to provide them with dignity of risk, hope for the future and increase the control they have over decisions. Where appropriate, this includes working to reduce and eliminate restrictive practices.
This includes supports with a participant’s mental health – whether or not that means a diagnosed condition. Hope Circle has extensive experience with a range of psychosocial disabilities and clients with forensic histories with SIL, in-home and community 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.