Mental health and supported independent living

February 2nd 2023

Support for mental health and supported independent living can complement each other. In our Supported Independent Living homes in Western Sydney, we support a number of participants who are living with psychosocial disabilities. Psychosocial disability is a term used to describe a disability that may arise from a mental health issue.

The NDIS supports we provide can be accessed alongside clinical mental health services that are not funded by the NDIS.

Keep reading to learn more about how NDIS supports such as supported independent living can help people living with a mental health condition.

Mental health and the NDIS

A mental health condition can be temporary or lifelong and include mood, anxiety, personality, psychotic and compulsive disorders. If you have a disability arising from a mental health condition, then you may qualify for the NDIS.

Afea Supported Independent Living Jordan Springs — *Inside Afea’s SIL & SDA home in Jordan Springs*

However, diagnosis and mental health treatments are handled not by the NDIS but by the mental health system, which includes psychiatrists, psychologists, government hospitals and private mental healthcare organisations.

You can turn to the NDIS for supports that are not clinical in nature. To quote the NDIS: “NDIS support is centred on the impairment (the impact of the mental health condition rather than the condition itself).”

For example, your mental health condition may make it difficult for you to function in daily life, affecting your ability to take care of yourself and interact with others. If you receive NDIS funding, you can use this to pay for supports that will help you become independent.

Learn more: mental health and the NDIS

Supported independent living

One of these supports is Supported Independent Living, a type of home and living supports funded by the NDIS. This is for those who require personal support or supervision seven days a week, including overnight support.

While it is possible to receive SIL support in your own home, it is highly likely you will be receiving SIL in a home shared with other NDIS participants, like the SIL homes ran by Afea.

As an NDIS registered SIL provider, we work closely with participants to create a document called “Roster of Care” or RoC.

A roster of care will include information such as:

a description of the property where you’ll receive SIL support
the types of support you’ll be able to receive
the number of hours of support in an ordinary week
ratio of support, or how many disability support workers will provide your support, and how many participants you’ll share this support with (e.g. a 1:2 ratio means you have one support worker for every two participants, including yourself)
the outcomes you want to achieve

We are also responsible for screening the support workers who will be working on-site at the property.

Learn more: What is Supported Independent Living?

Daily assistance in your SIL home

Depending on your goals and needs, staying in a SIL home with 24/7 support means you can focus on building your skills, such as taking care of your finances, establishing a weekly routine or coping with your emotions.

Afea Carers can provide companionship and conversation to help you overcome isolation, reduce loneliness and build your confidence.

While living in the SIL home, you’ll have support workers every day to assist you with daily tasks. Examples include personal hygiene, shopping or cooking your own meals.

They can also accompany you to visit your mental health clinician, ensuring that you can refill your prescription or attend your medical appointments on time.

Want to learn something new? Perhaps you want to begin art and music therapy, which can enhance your mental health. Your support workers can assist you if you wish to attend classes or begin a new hobby.