The NDIS has the potential to support thousands of Australians with psychosocial disability, the term used to describe disabilities that may arise from mental health issues. While not everyone who has a mental health issue will experience psychosocial disability, those who do can experience severe effects and social disadvantage.
A person living with mental illness will be eligible for the NDIS if it impacts on their life in a significant and permanent way. That could mean it affects how you communicate, how you get on with people, how you are included in your local community, how you learn, how you get around and your ability to care for yourself.
So how can the NDIS support people with mental illness?
The NDIS funds "reasonable and necessary supports" that help people with disability reach their goals in life, to work and to be part of the community. The NDIS won't support clinical services that you get from the health system – things like psychiatry services or medication. But it can support people to be more independent, find a job, be more financially secure, travel to appointments independently or make friends more easily.