This month Sunshine Coast Neuro Rehab staff have joined the push up challenge to raise awareness and funds for mental health.
At SCNR we support people living with neurological condition like cerebral palsy, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease. Some of our clients have hidden disabilities, such as fatigue. Others are unable to get out of a bed and rely fully on others to do everyday tasks like eating, showering and going to the toilet.
Disability and Mental Health
In 2018, 1 in 6 Australians had a disability, with 1.4 million people with severe disability. People living with disabilities are more likely to have mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety.
Getting enough exercise can be difficult, and people with disability are less likely to get the recommended amount of physical activity. As physiotherapists we support our clients in achieving realistic goals to participate in physical activity.
Lots of people with disabilities don’t have much support or understanding from their friends and family. Many find it hard with money constraints and being able to access activities. To help overcome these barriers, the National Disability Insurance Scheme helps people with a disability get the support they need. As of March 31st 2002, over half a million people with a disability are supported by the NDIS.
To improve the mental health of people with a disability, it is important they are supported to participate in physical and community activi
we need to help everybody, including those with disabilities, to be able to participate and be included. Understanding what it’s like for others will help decrease discrimination against people with a disability.
Neve Cavanagh
Physiotherapist, APA Member
Reference:
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2020). People with disability in Australia. Retrieved from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/disability/people-with-disability-in-australia
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2020). Health of people with disability. Retrieved from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/health-of-people-with-disability
The National Disability Insurance Agency. (2022). Retrieved from https://data.ndis.gov.au/
Suzanne C. Smeltzer., Improving the health and wellness of persons with disabilities: A call to action too important for nursing to ignore, Nursing Outlook, Volume 55, Issue 4, 2007, Pages 189-195.e2, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2007.04.001.