DUAL DIAGNOSIS
I
n early 2021 , we conducted an audit across Turning Point ’ s Leicester , Leicestershire and Rutland services , and our results found that 55 per cent of the population in structured treatment had disclosed a mental health need . The actual figure was likely to be higher if we considered the population with non-disclosed mental health difficulties .
The figures are unsurprising as data from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities revealed that nearly two-thirds of adults ( 63 per cent ) starting treatment for substance use from 2020 to 2021 disclosed having a mental health treatment need .
From our experience , people with coexisting substance use and mental health difficulties have reported a range of issues when accessing services to get the support they need . Organisations tend to focus on one problem rather than the combination of challenges that people with coexisting substance use and mental health difficulties experience .
Turning Point initially published the dual-diagnosis toolkit with Rethink to address these difficulties in 2004 . In 2021 , we published a revised Substance use mental health resource pack ( available at turning-point . co . uk ) to provide guidance on how services can better support people with coexisting substance use and mental health difficulties .
In September 2021 , we established a substance use and mental health team across Leicester and Leicestershire . Our team aims to facilitate the integration of substance use and mental health treatment with local services and address the issue of service users falling between the gaps between the two services .
TEAM WORKING
The substance use and mental health ( SUMH ) team comprises psychological support , advanced practitioners , input from the service psychiatrist , and the adult safeguarding lead . We work together to provide consultation support and facilitate the development of a treatment plan that considers support available internally alongside local mental health services .
In line with national guidelines , we recognise that mental health is a shared responsibility and everyone ’ s job . We are , therefore , focused on developing skills within the workforce to understand mental health and are developing trauma-informed practices through training , consultation , and collaboration with service users .
During staff induction , we have introduced training on developing therapeutic relationships with service users . We also offer crisis survival skills training for staff , which has been developed and is facilitated by the psychology team . This enables staff across the service to work with individuals to develop safety plans and discuss skills to manage crisis periods .
Addressing mental health and substance use together is the only way to form a meaningful personal plan , says Dr Hauwa Onifade
GREATER THAN THE SUM tomozina / iStock
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