It’s frustrating to see that the NDIS still doesn’t cover essential acute, subacute, emergency and outpatient services provided by both public and private hospitals. This leaves many psychosocial participants in a tough spot, unable to access necessary care when they need it most.
The system seems to demand that your condition be classified as chronic, pervasive and lifelong just to qualify for any support, but even then, it’s restricted to continuing care or rehabilitation.
Where does that leave those of us who need support in the here and now, but don't necessarily fall under those rigid criteria? It feels like the NDIS is still leaving too many people in a grey area with no clear path to getting the help we truly need.
There is a major road block for so called “invisible disabilities”.
The government and the way it manages spending is heavily focused on public opinion of voters when it comes to creating policy.
Because of this there almost feels like a need to base funding decisions on what they can tangibly justify. With physical disabilities the process is often easier (not easy by a long shot) to convince the general public that support is needed and money is being justifiably spent. Unfortunately very few of the general public understand disability, let alone mental health disabilities. When they see someone “able bodied” getting something from their tax money instead of just working and getting it, there is a relfex to think very negatively about the situation.
There is also a perception of double dipping when someone is getting supported by multiple services no matter how much justification is given.
Just about everything is underfunded. A lot of handballing happens instead of problem solving and too many fall through the cracks. No government wants to rock the boat too much when it comes to increasing taxes to increase funding. Can’t upset the voters.
It leaves a lot of well intentioned programs falling short.
I hear your frustration @Ethan32. Gaps and struggles around NDIS when it comes to mental health have been around for a long time. It’s a tough thing. I feel like anything where the disability is not immediately obvious/ visible can be harder, because of the invisibility of it. That does not, however, make invisible disability, including mental health/ psychosocial, and the associated needs for support and care, any less valid. There are a number of short-term supports out there, like helplines. I’m not sure if this is something you’ve accessed or would find beneficial? Feel free to ask any specific questions you have though- I’m happy to try to assist where I can
I’m pretty new to the NDIS for psychosocial stuff too. It took me a bit to figure out what was covered and what wasn’t. You might have to keep digging to find exactly what fits your needs.
I’ve seen both sides, honestly. The NDIS isn’t perfect, but it definitely helped my brother in some areas. It’s been a tough road for him, but he’s getting support for his daily needs now, which is something.
It’s like they just don’t understand that not all mental health issues are the same. Even when you’re not in a “chronic” state, you still need help. It feels like the system only supports you if you’re already at rock bottom.
The system definitely has its limitations. But I’ve found that getting an advocate to help with paperwork and applications has made a huge difference. It might not fix everything, but it can help clarify things.
Yeah, it feels like there’s always a lot of red tape when it comes to accessing care. And when you don’t fit into their clear cut categories, you just get left waiting.
It’s not ideal, but I’ve found that sometimes you just have to keep appealing and advocating for yourself. It can be exhausting, but things sometimes change when you push a little harder.
Thanks for the replies everyone. It really does seem like the system is more focused on supporting visible and easily understood conditions, leaving those with invisible or less obvious issues in a tough spot. It’s so frustrating because mental health and psychosocial disabilities can be just as challenging, if not more in some cases. It shouldn’t be this hard to get the support we need just because our conditions don’t fit into a specific category.
The whole double dipping issue doesn’t sit right with me. It feels like people who genuinely need multiple forms of support are being penalized for it. It’s as if the system is more concerned with cutting costs than actually helping those who need it the most.
I’ve been trying to find more short-term supports, but it’s tough. I’ll definitely look into those helplines, @ii_Sara. Fingers crossed things start improving, but in the meantime, it’s definitely a struggle. Appreciate the advice!
