Responding effectively to co-occurring conditions
Co-occurring mental health issues are the norm among people accessing alcohol and other drug treatment. Up to 76% of clients in alcohol and other drug treatment experience mental health issues. Common co-occurring conditions you might encounter in your clients include anxiety, depression, PTSD, and personality disorders.
Sometimes, mental health conditions can lead people to use alcohol and other drugs as a coping mechanism. Conversely, long term alcohol and other drug use may also trigger mental health issues. Indirect factors like social isolation or other environmental stressors can play a role too, as well as biological, psychological, or environmental vulnerabilities.
Outcomes are often worse for people dealing with both mental health and alcohol and other drug use issues. Generally, these clients have a more severe and complex clinical profile and face significant barriers to accessing the treatment and support they need.
People with co-occurring conditions face poorer physical health, difficulties with social and occupational functioning, increased relationship stress, and increased alcohol and other drug use severity. They’re also at a higher risk of violence, homelessness, self harm, and suicide.
The complex interaction between symptoms, challenges in accessing appropriate treatment and referrals, past experiences of unsuccessful treatment, and stigma and discrimination create significant hurdles that both clients and practitioners have to navigate.
Understanding the relationship between mental health and alcohol and other drug use is essential to effective treatment. But navigating the complexities of co-occurring alcohol and other drug use and mental health issues can feel overwhelming to practitioners — and almost two thirds (62%) identify working with clients with co-occurring conditions as a training gap.
That's why our experts developed the Responding to Comorbidity workshop. This one day interactive online workshop will deepen your understanding and equip you with practical tools to confidently manage mental health symptoms in your existing alcohol and other drug practice.
You'll leave with the skills to recognise and understand common mental health conditions, undertake thorough screening, and develop integrated case formulations. You'll also learn how to apply a range of therapeutic alcohol and other drug treatment skills tailored to clients experiencing mental health challenges.
Walk away with practical skills that you can implement immediately:
- Recognise and understand the common mental health conditions in alcohol and other drug treatment
- Undertake thorough screening and develop an integrated case formulation to guide your practice
- Apply a range of alcohol and other drug treatment skills to working with clients with co-occurring mental health conditions
- Learn how to respond therapeutically and effectively within the bounds of the alcohol and other drug treatment setting
Learn more or book your place in Responding to Comorbidity here.
