WELLBEING
ALL BEING WELL
Ask people what wellbeing looks like and they may describe a long weekend away, a lunchtime walk, or a busy mum finally getting an hour to herself. These are all perfectly good examples. But wellbeing should belong to everyone, and for some people it sits at the very bottom of a long list of priorities.
For people experiencing multiple disadvantage, especially those with complex co-occurring conditions including homelessness, mental health challenges and addiction, priorities are usually practical and clinical – solve the housing problem, treat the addiction. Wellbeing becomes a‘ nice to have’, something to consider once everything else is sorted.
Bridge the Gap( DDN, April, page 12) takes a different view. Practitioners put individuals at the heart of their care using the My Team Around Me model, offering a whole-person, trauma-informed approach that considers both current needs and past experiences.
Finding a home for someone who is homeless is essential. But in isolation it may do little for their sense of wellbeing. Providing housing for someone
For those experiencing multiple disadvantage, a sense of wellbeing is far more than a‘ nice to have’, says Helen Munro
with other significant conditions does not, on its own, provide a long-term future. Bridge the Gap practitioners build relationships with clients, working with them to uncover the barriers to wellbeing and prioritising the factors that matter most to them. This might mean creating opportunities for their clients to become part of a community, or helping them navigate forms and attend appointments, helping to build a life which includes their new home, instead of solely‘ being housed’.
These themes ran through Dame Carol Black ' s recent visit to Surrey, hosted by Guildford Action Against Homelessness, where she heard presentations from Voices Support CIC LERO and from Bridge the Gap practitioners and clients.
Focusing on addiction, Dame Carol compared treatment to care for diabetes.‘ Clinicians would never say " when you recover from diabetes …",’ she pointed out, adding that‘ we should move away from the idea of completing treatment for addiction’. Addiction is a condition, and support must be wide-ranging and long-lasting, including helping people into work and finding them a good place to live. In closing, Dame
Carol suggested councils ringfence money for recovery, so local organisations can spend it according to the needs of their local populations.
One in two women engaging in treatment have experienced domestic abuse. Drug and alcoholrelated deaths among women are rising.
Following the visit Dr Jack Bedeman, Surrey’ s director of public health said it was a‘ real pleasure to welcome Dame Carol to Surrey. Her work has been instrumental in highlighting the challenges faced by people affected by drug and alcohol problems, and in demonstrating how systems can work more effectively together to improve outcomes. [ Dame Carol ] was impressed by the powerful insights shared by Voices Support CIC LERO members – and Bridge the Gap ' s support for people experiencing multiple disadvantage.’
The importance of prioritising wellbeing is illustrated through Sally’ s * story. Sally was referred to Bridge the Gap by the high intensity user lead at a local hospital, where she’ d attended A & E 64 times in the previous year. Sally’ s history included addiction, epilepsy, domestic abuse and mental health challenges. Supported by two BTG practitioners, Sally’ s situation improved dramatically. They helped secure a neuropsychiatry consultation which helped identify and manage her epilepsy symptoms. Her A & E attendances reduced considerably, she has rebuilt some family relationships, engages with her local community and is being supported to apply for part-time work.‘ I have never had so much care, empathy, compassion and understanding from a professional in my life,’ she said.‘ You make me feel like I’ m worth something.’
Wellbeing is not a reward for getting everything else in order. For many people experiencing multiple disadvantage, it’ s what makes recovery and stability possible and sustainable. As Dame Carol ' s visit reminded us, that means long-term, joined-up support, and treating wellbeing as a priority for everyone. * not her real name
Helen Munro is marketing and communications lead at Bridge the Gap
Caramel / iStock
WWW. DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS. COM NOVEMBER 2026 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • 19