Positively reconnecting with daily life

Both parents … have been a positive support throughout and have stated they feel less alone in their journey with their child.

In addition to having trouble managing daily tasks, those with reduced psychosocial functional capacity may struggle with work or study, getting involved in activities, participating in their community, and connecting with family and friends, and this in turn may affect quality of life.

‘D’*, a young adult living with their parents, had significant agoraphobia and had not left their home for 3 years. They had the additional challenges of living with a panic disorder and anxiety, as well as past trauma from being stalked.

D was referred to the SEMPHN-funded Commonwealth Psychosocial Support (CPS) program, which provides short-term intervention and non-clinical support for up to 12 months to adults living with severe and complex mental health conditions, providing them with practical help and strategies for daily living. 

CPS staff members have lived and living experience of mental health challenges and draw on this when supporting clients accessing the program. CPS also facilitates group activities to encourage community connections. The program offers peer support, where clients can talk to others who have, or are currently, experiencing mental health challenges.

D was one of more than 1,000 south east Melbourne residents who accessed the CPS program in 2024–25. 

D was connected with a CPS worker from one of the providers, ermha365, and had all appointments initially conducted via phone. Over time, the worker was able to build trust and create a safe space for D. D agreed to video calls within a few months of referral, then eventually felt comfortable enough to have the worker meet them at their home.

The CPS worker assisted D with coping strategies to manage anxiety and connected them with a psychiatrist who was able to provide support and medication review. D’s strength-based care encompassed a holistic approach that involved family in their interventions. 

“Both parents … have been a positive support throughout and have stated they feel less alone in their journey with their child,” says a CPS staff member familiar with D's case.

Together, D’s family and the CPS worker developed steps to assist D in leaving their house, starting with simply going outside together, then taking walks around the block, and planning visits to nearby places. Now, after 12 months, D is able to venture beyond their immediate area. 

CPS’s support has opened new opportunities for D, and they are beginning to make plans beyond the program, including looking into how to gain their driver’s licence. They have also expressed interest in growing their social network and being a more active member of the community. 

“This has been a journey for [D] who, with person-centred, trauma-informed, and self-paced support, has achieved outcomes they and their family did not believe were possible,” says the CPS staff member.


*Client’s name has been changed to protect their anonymity.