Some people with a severe mental illness experience consequences of that illness that make their daily living difficult for them. Help is available in the form of psychosocial support services.
Psychosocial support can take many forms. It may mean supporting people with:
There is a range of community-based, government-funded psychosocial support services available in Tasmania, including through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Primary Health Tasmania is not involved in services provided through the NDIS, but we have received Australian Government funding to commission psychosocial support services outside of the NDIS.
Primary Health Tasmania has commissioned the delivery of two psychosocial support services in Tasmania.
Under the National Psychosocial Support Measure, a non-clinical support service is available for adults with a severe mental illness that impacts on their daily life from time to time. This service is for people who are not suited to the NDIS.
Mental Health TasConnect is a free and confidential phone line which aims to connect someone with a severe mental illness with the psychosocial support services that best meet their needs. Available to people of any age, it can also link people to a peer worker if they need help applying for psychosocial support through the NDIS.
Full service details are on Our Services Portal.
NDIS support is available for people whose mental health recovery is likely to be lifelong, and whose mental health condition has a significant impact on their ability to carry out day-to-day activities. This is referred to as psychosocial disability.
More information is available on the NDIS website.
Primary Health Tasmania has done some work with the Mental Health Council of Tasmania and other stakeholders to identify and address barriers faced by people with mental illness when testing for the NDIS. More information is available here.