Is Depression a Disability? How to Get Support in Australia
Whether you’re experiencing symptoms of depression yourself, or you know someone who may be, there are a number of steps you can take to help improve the situation. Sometimes, things can become very complex and very quickly, so it’s important to know what the options are and what your next steps might be if that’s the case.
Depression is pretty common in Australia. In fact, around one in seven Australians will experience it in their lifetime. There are a number of support systems in place to help those who are experiencing symptoms of depression, from crisis hotlines and online support, to professional treatment through mental health plans and specialised services.
For some, depression can become crippling and affect not only everyday life, but cause functional impairments and disconnection from society too.
Is Depression a Disability in Australia?
Depression can be a disability, but it’s not recognised as one immediately. When it gets to the stage of being severe, long-lasting and limiting function in everyday life (including work and social settings), depression can be considered a disability in Australia.
In the context of the NDIS, depression being a disability is not simply reliant on a diagnosis, but the impact it has on the individual. In other words, depression wouldn’t be considered a disability from the moment it’s diagnosed, but from the moment it’s been identified as causing those functional impairments and societal disconnections we mentioned earlier.
Depression vs Psychosocial Disability
If you or someone you know is at this point in their battle with depression, it’s usually defined as being a psychosocial disability because of that significant impact. In 2022, 1.7 million Australians were living with a psychosocial disability, up by around 600,000 when compared to 2018. Not all psychosocial disabilities are related to depression, but some experiences with depression can become hindering to the point of being recognised as a psychosocial disability.
When this happens or becomes clear, the focus should shift to recovery, capacity building, and helping people to live a life that is fulfilling. This is where the NDIS can come in.
4 Ways the NDIS Supports People Living with Depression and Psychosocial Disability
The NDIS can support people living with depression, where it’s reached the point of becoming a psychosocial disability. For participants, there are a few options available, and the most relevant options can be discussed with a support coordinator as part of the planning process.
Support Coordination and Specialist Support Coordination
Once you’re an NDIS participant, what’s next? It can be overwhelming to know where to start, but support coordination and specialist support coordination services are there to help guide you. Whether it’s navigating the NDIS as a whole, connecting you with the right services, or helping build your capacity and independence, support coordinators and specialist support coordinators help make the complexities simpler along the way.
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)
The NDIS can help fund positive behaviour support (or PBS) to help participants on their journey to discovering how they can improve their quality of life, and what that actually looks like. It all starts with a behaviour support plan that aims to address behaviours of concern (in the context of depression, this is usually associated with factors like self-harm or withdrawal), with the aim of eventually reaching an enhanced quality of life. PBS is typically covered if behaviour support, or the desire to improve relationships, is listed or specifically mentioned in your NDIS plan.
Social and Community Participation
This type of support for depression that has been categorised as a disability revolves around building social connections and confidence, but also to reduce isolation. This is done to boost participants’ overall mental health and ultimately to reduce symptoms of depression.
From undertaking some volunteer work, to becoming part of groups or clubs that share a common interest (like games, books or movies, for example), and even mentoring programs, social and community participation can play a huge role in addressing depression that is identified as being a psychosocial disability.
Capacity Building
Capacity building supports are quite broad in what they can do and how they can be used by participants, but the idea is that there are long-term plans in place to aid skill-building, continued recovery and even help to assist in a return to work situation where relevant. This is done so participants with a psychosocial disability can be supported in eventually managing their own mental health, not just receiving temporary relief through the supports available.
Whether this is done through psychology sessions, psychosocial recovery coaching, occupational therapy or employment assistance (to name a few) will depend on the participant, their individual needs and behaviours, and what they’re hoping to achieve.
What to Do Next to Get the Right Support
The right support can make a world of difference, especially when you’re navigating the NDIS, your NDIS plan, or managing complex situations and disabilities. With practical support that extends beyond what you’d expect, the team at Ark Support Coordination works to support people living with a psychosocial disability, which in some cases, can include depression, in a range of ways.
If you’re not sure what the next steps are, or you just have some questions that you’d like to chat through with us, reach out to our team online or give us a call on (08) 9373 7500.