event details

Mental health and alcohol and other drugs workshop

25 October 2021
9:00am – 4:30pm
Online workshop, At your computer,
The challenges associated with co-occurring mental health and AOD concerns have been of increasing concerns for individuals, support networks and a range of services such as mental health and AOD. The potential for enormous personal cost to the individual and their support network is great, with evidence of a higher incidence of hospitalisation, greater risk of homelessness, higher rates of criminal activity, poorer treatment outcomes, poorer health status, lower life expectancy, and increased rates of completed suicide compared to people experiencing mental health condition or substance abuse alone (Marel et al., 2016).

The purpose of this workshop is to highlight the impacts of living with the combined effects of mental health and AOD conditions. The workshop aims to enhance skills, knowledge and confidence of participants when working with people living with combined AOD use and mental health issues. 

Learning objectives:
  • Understand the impact of co-occurring AOD and mental health conditions on people and their care network
  • Describe the effects of AOD on mental health
  • Explain the interaction between substance use and mental health medications
  • Describe approaches for screening and assessment of AOD and mental health conditions
  • Explain the application of person centred practice when supporting a person living with co-occurring mental health and AOD issues
  • Understand the guiding principles for supporting people with co-existing mental health and substance abuse conditions
  • Describe strategies to support a coordinated approach for supporting people living with mental health and substance abuse conditions.
About the trainer:
Alison Bell has a background in nursing and psychology and has worked in the mental health and alcohol and other drugs field since the mid 1980s. Alison has developed and facilitated workshops on a range of topics including motivational interviewing, mental health recovery, comorbidity and gambling over the past three decades. Alison currently works in mental health services within the Central Coast Local Health District.

Further information:
This workshop will be conducted via Zoom due to the current COVID-19 restrictions in NSW. Further information will be sent to attendees closer to the date. For any questions regarding the workshop please contact Sun Budhai, .

This training is now at capacity and registration has now closed. Due to the overwhelming response individuals on the waitlist will be contacted once another training date has been secured.

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