Dealing with NDIS leading to anxiety and suicidal ideation among participants

Andrew Bretherton is worried his NDIS payments will be cut. (Supplied: Andrew Bretherton) As the federal government tries to rein in its spending on the NDIS, participants and advocates say they are suffering physically and mentally due to cuts to individual plans. Users say the cuts are restricting vital support for day-to-day living. Advocates warn participants will continue to fall through the cracks unless the government addresses the complex nature of individual needs. Link copiedShareShare articleIt took three attempts and thousands of dollars in legal fees before Andrew Bretherton was finally granted access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Mr Bretherton lives with a complex biological illness called myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), which he developed after catching glandular fever as a 26-year-old. Now, he is afraid he will be booted off the scheme. "I've seen other people with my condition either [be] removed or had their funding massively cut and people in the ME/CFS community are quite scared about what these cuts will mean," Mr Bretherton said. Those fears are affecting Mr Bretherton's mental health, and he is not alone. One disability activist says the system is causing anxiety, depression and even suicidal ideation for those it is supposed to help. Last month, the federal government announced it would remove more than 160,000 people from the NDIS, along with a host of other changes. The government said it was all in a bid to crack down on massive cost blowouts. Mr Bretherton, who also lives with autism, said NDIS cuts had directly affected him in the past and he hoped it would not happen again. Last month, the federal government announced it was trying to rein in NDIS spending. (ABC News: Patrick Stone) "Before I was on the NDIS, I was mostly housebound and bedbound," he said. "I didn't have those supports in place to enable me to go out and participate in my community. He said he was concerned future cuts would further restrict his access to the community and cause further mental health risks. "Art therapy was one thing that did actually help, but that was cut completely," Mr Bretherton said. "I also had my physio cut quite substantially which has led to more physical pain and mobility issues." People with Disabilities Australia (PWDA) acting chief executive Megan Spindler-Smith said many people dealing with the NDIS were experiencing "exhaustion". "Navigating the NDIS can be incredibly stressful," Mx Spindler-Smith said. "We hear from people who are trying to work, study, raise children, manage their health, and participate fully in their communities while also navigating complex systems, gathering evidence and responding to changing requirements." Mx Spindler-Smith said many people felt they were constantly having to justify their disabilities, their support needs, and their right to participate in everyday life, adding to the strain on their mental health. They said NDIS recipients say the system can be "transformative" when it works well but stressed the need for certainty for participants and their families. "People are being told replacement systems will exist in the future, but we have no clarity on what those systems will look like, where they will be available, who will be eligible or whether they will meet people's needs," they said. Megan Spindler-Smith says many people dealing with the NDIS are experiencing "exhaustion". (Supplied: People with Disabilities Australia) "PWDA has heard from people who have sought additional mental health support because of the stress associated with NDIS reviews, planning processes, appeals and uncertainty about future supports. "Ultimately, what people want is certainty." The federal minister for health and disabilities was contacted for comment but did not respond. Independent disability activist Zoe Simmons said navigating the NDIS system and its changes takes a huge mental toll on people with disabilities. "Many people do feel like a burden, even when what they're asking for are basic human needs." Zoe Simmons says navigating the NDIS system and its changes takes a huge mental toll on people with disabilities. (Supplied: Zoe Simmons) Ms Simmons, who experiences complex mental health issues on top of her other diagnoses autism and CFS, said she has "fortnightly mental health sessions just to cope". She is "terrified" that changes to the NDIS could see herself and others like her become more isolated and exacerbate her mental health issues. "It was hard enough accessing the supports I currently have, let alone not knowing whether you are going to have enough supports to survive in the future," she said. Copy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)PromotionIf you need someone to talk to, call:Lifeline on 13 11 14Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36Headspace on 1800

Dealing with NDIS leading to anxiety and suicidal ideation among participants

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