Living with a mental health condition can make everyday tasks harder. But it doesn’t mean you can’t live independently. Supported Independent Living (SIL) is funded by the NDIS. It gives people with mental illness the support they need to live safely in their own home with more freedom and confidence.
Workers who assist patients include support workers who take care of the daily activities such as cooking, cleaning, taking medication, or going out to the community. The work of SIL is not limited to chores. It is also about making someone feel capable and supported in their daily life.
Do you or any of your family/friends live with a mental health condition? SIL might be the second step to a higher level of independence and improving the quality of life.
SIL is for people with a mental health diagnosis and requiring assistance on a daily basis to live well. It assists individuals with psychosocial impairment, such as individuals who live with depression, anxiety, PTSD, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. SIL gives them the support needed to manage everyday life better.
To get SIL, you need to be part of the NDIS. Your NDIS plan must also include a goal for independent living or daily support. You’ll also need to show that you need help each day to manage your tasks at home and in the community.
Your doctor or psychologist can write reports that explain your needs. If the NDIS approves it, they will add SIL funding to your plan. It falls under the “Assistance with Daily Life” part of your NDIS supports.
SIL looks different for every person. Some people might need help all day and night. Other cases may just require the aid during mornings or evenings. The availability of the help depends on what you need because of which you can live a good life and feel happy at home.
Examples of problems that such support workers can help with include cooking, cleaning, taking medication, attending visits, or budgeting. They can also help you get ready to face the day, participate in group activity or have a routine. They are trained to support people with mental health needs in a calm and respectful way.
Some homes are shared with two to seven people. Others are smaller and more private. You can even live with individuals who receive NDIS support as well. This is in order to provide you with privacy when you require it and converse when you wish to do so. It is about getting the balance right.
If your mental health condition affects how, you live every day, that’s called a psychosocial disability. SIL is there to support you with that. It gives you help to manage those challenges and feel more confident at home and in the community.
SIL helps you create a daily routine, be more in control and develop improved interpersonal relations. It provides you with the opportunity to learn, develop, and be part of the group. You will not be as alone, and you will also have the assistance you apparently require in dealing with stress and feelings.
Recovery doesn’t mean everything is perfect. It means learning to live well and feel good in your own way. SIL helps by giving structure, support, and the tools to build a life that works for you.
Depending on whether you are searching for a quiet and private space, or a general home where you can interact with new people, there are alternatives that fit every kind of requirement. You also do not need to work it all out by yourself, and support coordinators can assist you throughout the process.
They’ll help you find the right place to live, the right support team, and help you start your journey with SIL. It’s all about making things easier and helping you feel supported and confident.
It doesn’t not pay your rent and the groceries and water bills and electricity bills. It also does not cover transport and personal expenditure and as such, you will still have to save to live like everybody else.
SIL simplifies life in spite of the expenditure not being all inclusive in daily life. Using your support team, you will be able to understand how to handle your finances, pay bills and keep home life going as smoothly as possible.
If you suspect that SIL is what you need, first speak to your NDIS Support Coordinator or Local Area Coordinator. Tell them you are interested and tell them the kind of help you require.
Then, ask your doctor or mental health team to write a report about your daily needs. This helps the NDIS understand why SIL is right for you.
