An introduction to mental illness
The term ‘mental illness’ encompasses a wide range of conditions, some mild such as mild anxiety or mild depression, and some which can be serious and cause significant debilitation. Common serious mental illness conditions include severe anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, PTSD, Tourette’s Syndrome, and obsessive compulsive disorder.
Mental Illness supports covered by the NDIS
If you suffer from a long-term or significant disability resulting from a mental health condition, you may be able eligible for funding under the NDIS. To qualify for NDIS funding, you need to provide evidence of your mental health condition, and support will be contingent on the how our condition impacts your daily life.
Whilst a specific diagnosis is not strictly required, you must provide evidence of the functional impact of the condition that makes you eligible. This includes evidence of the treatments that have been explored, and that the condition significantly reduces your ability to function in everyday life.
What is the difference between mental illness and psychosocial disability?
Mental illness refers to the clinical diagnosis such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or severe depression. Psychosocial disability refers to the impact that the mental illness has on your day-to-day functioning. NDIS funding supports the disability level, rather than the diagnosis.
Types of Supports available for Mental Illness
Depending on you funding, you may be eligible for NDIS supports including:
In-Home Support
In-Home Support is daily living support and personal care, such as cooking, cleaning, and medication management, helping individuals live as independently as possible.
Community Access
Community Access is reliable help to get you where you need to go. Our experienced support workers can help you attend appointments, run errands, learn to use public transport and travel independently, and join activities and stay engaged with friends and community.
Supported Independent Living (SIL)
Supported Independent Living is 24/7, high-intensity support model tailored for individuals with significant disability needs.
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Specialist Disability Accommodation is physical accommodation (house, unit, townhouse or apartment), specifically designed for people with high support needs. SIL supports can be delivered in a private home or in a SDA home.
Psychosocial Recovery Coaching
Mentors with lived or professional experience in mental health help you build resilience, set goals, and navigate your recovery journey – this is a specific support provided by a recovery coach.
Therapeutic Supports
Occupational therapists and psychologists help you develop coping strategies, regulate emotions, and improve your functional capacity.
Group Community Access
Our Group Community Access program helps you build confidence and connection through shared experiences. Each week, you’ll head out with friends and support staff to enjoy a variety of fun, inclusive activities across Brisbane
What is NDIS In Home Support for Mental Illness?
The NDIS funds in-home supports for mental illness conditions (formally known as psychosocial supports) through “psychosocial disability”. These are non-clinical services for individuals whose mental illness conditions results in a lifelong, significant, or permanent functional impairment in their daily lives. Funding focusses on daily living assistance, personal care, and therapeutic skill-building to help you manage your mental health and live independently in your own home.
Types of In-Home Mental Health Supports
Depending on your NDIS funding, your In-Home Mental Health Supports may include:
- Personal Care – supported tasks such as showering, grooming, toileting, and dressing.
- Domestic Tasks – Cleaning, washing, shopping, house upkeep.
- Meal Preparation – meal preparation and nutritional supports.
- Appointments and Errands – Medical appointments, banking, accessing community services and activities.
- Travel & Community Access – Transport planning and travel assistance.
- Social Connection – assistance with connecting with family and friends, socialising, social activities, social skills development, and building confidence and emotional wellbeing in social settings.
Can I get support for a fluctuating mental health condition?
The NDIS recognises that mental health conditions can be episodic, and support needs are assessed based on how your condition and symptoms affect your daily life, as well as capacity over time, including periods when you are unwell.
If I receive NDIS funding, do I need to stop seeing my regular doctors or allied health specialists?
No, you can continue with your clinical treatments such as medical management, therapy, and visits to your psychiatrist (these are still funded through Medicare). You NDIS funding addresses the everyday, non-clinical challenges caused by your condition.
How to apply for In Home Mental Health Supports funding
To get started, you must prove that your mental health condition causes a permanent (or likely permanent) functional impairment.
- The first step is to conduct an assessment with a mental health professional like an occupational therapist or psychiatrist, who will complete a functional capacity assessment detailing how your conditions impacts your daily life.
- You can then submit this application and evidence to the NDIS to be considered for funding.
- Once funding approval has been granted, you can seek local mental health and daily living support providers.
Why seek mental health support funding?
Significant and prolonged mental illness disorders can be debilitating and effect many aspects of daily living. Mental health funding can help to increase your community participation, social interactions, the ability to better manage your day-to-day living, and ultimately to enjoy a brighter future.
Why Choose swara as your Brisbane In Home Mental Health Support provider?
At swara, we provide person-centred, trauma-informed In-Home Mental Health Supports that are tailored to each participant’s individual needs, goals, preferences, and routines.
Our experienced support team is committed to building trusting and consistent relationships that promote independence, wellbeing, recovery, and meaningful community participation. We understand that everyone’s mental health journey is different, which is why we take the time to understand what matters to each person and provide support that works for them.
Our support workers have experience supporting people with a range of mental health needs and can assist with:
- Developing daily living and life skills
- Building confidence and independence
- Establishing routines and maintaining wellbeing
- Managing day-to-day challenges
- Strengthening social and community connections
- Working towards individual NDIS goals
We carefully match participants with support workers who share their interests and communication style, helping to create consistent, respectful, and genuine relationships. Our team works alongside participants—not simply for them—to build capacity, confidence, and choice.
If you or someone you know is looking for In-Home Mental Health Supports in Brisbane, contact the swara team today to discuss how we can help.