Does NDIS Cover Mental Health? What you Need to Know

by Karen C. Health Guide

Mental health is a tricky terrain to manage.

Along with the countless troubles that someone suffering from poor mental health encounters, is the financial aspect of seeking help, it can be costly.

That being said, it’s a good idea to have your ground covered and know whether your mental health treatment can be covered by the NDIS.

But before we dive into the topic, let’s take a look at what the NDIS is.

NDIS: What is it?

NDIS, or the National Disability Insurance Scheme, is a government run scheme in Australia that covers financial costs that are related to disability.

Allotment by NDIS is done according to the specific needs of individuals, and may cater to therapeutic supports, home modifications, mobility, and transport, among other things.

As for people suffering from mental health conditions, whether or not they qualify for NDIS support varies from person to person. It will depend on the nature and severity of their mental health condition. Let’s talk more about this in detail.

NDIS and Mental Health: What’s the Deal?

The first thing to note here is that the NDIS only covers expenses that are related to any sort of disability. While poor mental health is definitely a health condition, it is not always a disability.

A mental health condition is termed as a disability in the case that it has a long-term negative effect on the person’s everyday functioning – examples of these include long-standing depression, bipolar disorder, and dementia, among others.

As for the NDIS, it is a scheme created with physical disabilities in mind, and its policies towards individuals suffering from even some of the most severe mental health conditions are stringent. Typically, things such as psychotherapy, medication, social interventions, and treatments are not covered by the NDIS.

However, that being said, the NDIS does make exceptions and covers individuals living with mental health conditions that affect their everyday functioning. In such conditions, they take responsibility for support that allows individuals to:

· Participate in everyday activities

· Engage in their community through study, work, and social interaction

· Garner and rebuild confidence and skills that will aid community engagement and everyday functioning

Once a mental health condition is judged under these criteria, it must also meet regular NDIS funding regulations in order to receive any monetary assistance.

This regular funding assessment entails that the type of support being provided must not be prohibited by law and must meet the necessary and reasonable criteria set forth by the NDIS.

This criteria include:

1. That the received support will aid goal achievement as stated in the individual’s plan.

2. That the support you receive will allow you to remove the disability-related obstacles in your life and more fully partake in economic and social activities.

3. That the support given must be considered value for money in that the benefits that come from it are upholded when compared to alternative routes of treatment.

4. That it makes most sense for the NDIS to provide this financial support, and not for another government-funded agency.

5. That the support be beneficial and effective for the recipient, judged on the basis of existing research on the subject matter.

So, while some mental health conditions and cases may be covered by the NDIS, it really is a matter of individual case to an individual case.

How Do I Access NDIS Therapeutic Supports and Psychology for Mental Health?

It isn’t always an easy system to understand. Under the NDIS, supports should always be client centred and should be flexible.

Therefore if your goal is to improve your mental health because affects your daily activities you may be able to access psychology and counselling through the NDIS.

Your goal will need to be specific and written into your NDIS plan.

You may have a Support Coordinator, Plan Manager or NDIS Manager who can help you with this.

If you have psychology or counselling written into your NDIS Plan, you can access a registered NDIS therapist and start counselling services. Your service provider (psychologist or counsellor) will help you to reach your goals to improve your mental effecting your daily activities.

If you have any questions about your eligibility for therapy services under the NDIS, visit the eligibility checker on the NDIS website

https://www.ndis.gov.au/applying-access-ndis/am-i-eligible