Almost one in two Australians will experience a mental health issue during their lifetime with some of the major types of mental health issues being depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar mood disorder, personality disorders, and eating disorders.
Our region has high levels of mental health issues including depression and anxiety with socioeconomic disadvantaged people particularly affected.

The 2018 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers found that 4.4% of Queensland residents had a psychosocial disability which suggests that our region has at least 3593 people aged under 65 and 1128 people aged 65 and over, with a psychosocial disability. However, it is well known that these models do not account for rural variations or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.
In the 2021-22 Budget, the Australian Government announced $171.3 million over two years, to continue Commonwealth Psychosocial Supports from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2023 across Australia.
'Psychosocial supports' are non-clinical community-based supports that aim to facilitate recovery in the community for people experiencing mental illness through a range of services to help people manage daily activities, rebuild and maintain connections, build social skills and participate in education and employment.

Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN is required to commission psychosocial support services for adults with severe mental illness and associated psychosocial functional impairment who are not accessing services through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), including individuals who are found eligible but not yet activated their plan, or have no access to NDIS Service Providers in their region.
Clients for these services are defined as people experiencing severe and complex mental health conditions who are currently being managed in the primary care setting via a GP and/or psychiatrist. The scope and funding for the services will be based across local government areas (LGA) of the PHN region.

The PHN is requesting submissions for co-designed, evidence based innovative programs that outline stakeholders involvement and should focus on medium to long term outcomes including:
improved consumer recovery outcomes increased consumer capacity, confidence, self-reliance/independence, and reduced distress
improved coordination and integration of psychosocial services within the broader mental, health and community support system
reduced demand for more expensive interventions (e.g., crisis services, acute or inpatient facilities) and reduced mental health related hospitalisations increased social and economic participation of consumers (including carers/families) improved quality of life, health, and wellbeing of consumers (including carers/families) more people with severe mental illness able to live independently, productivity and safely in the community improved sustainability and equity in the psychosocial support system.