Helping non-specialist professionals to detect and assist with co-existing mental health and drug and alcohol problems

Mental Health and Substance Use: dual diagnosis, Volume 2, Issue 3 October 2009 , pages 173 - 181

There is a high prevalence of co-existing mental health and drug and alcohol problems. Many people with these co-existing problems initially present in a range of contexts including the criminal justice system and social care settings relating to housing, relationships, family problems, etc., as opposed to mental health or substance misuse services. A complicating factor is that many people with these co-existing problems do not recognise that they have such problems and do not ask for help.

This paper seeks to help workers within such agencies to detect co-existing mental health and drug and alcohol problems, in order to offer help directly or to enable an onward referral.

In order to detect unrecognised co-existing mental health and drug and alcohol problems, it is suggested that non-specialist organisations need to develop methods of routine screening and risk assessment with a view to providing brief interventions for mental health symptoms and alcohol and other drug use, within the context of extensive liaison with a wide range of agencies.

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