Home
- » Key resources and services
  - » Health promotion resources
    - » Guidelines on the management of co-occurring alcohol and other drug and mental health conditions in alcohol and other drug treatment settings

Guidelines on the management of co-occurring alcohol and other drug and mental health conditions in alcohol and other drug treatment settings (2009)

Author

Mills KL, Deady M, Proudfoot H, Sannibale C, Teesson M, Mattick R, Burns L

City

Sydney

Type

Report

Institution

National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre

Description

These guidelines provide the direction for alcohol and other drugs (AOD) workers as they manage comorbid (occuring at the same time) alcohol and other drug and mental health conditions faced by clients. They are not Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander specific but do highlight the issues which need to be considered by AOD workers when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The guidelines are based on the best available evidence, experience and knowledge of clinicians, researchers, consumers and carers. They aim to provide the AOD workforce with:

increased knowledge and awareness of mental health conditions

improved confidence and skills for working with clients with comorbid mental health conditions

guiding values for working with clients with comorbid mental health conditions

improved skills to enable them to identify mental health conditions

practical information on the management of comorbid mental health conditions

information on the treatment of comorbid mental health conditions

information on how to refer clients to other health professionals

resources that may be helpful for the above.

The guidelines were developed by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre with funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

When to use this resource

These guidelines have been developed mainly for alcohol and other drug (AOD) workers working in AOD treatment settings, for example:

inpatient or outpatient detoxification
residential rehabilitation
alternative types of therapy
outpatient counselling services.

Other health professionals may also find the guidelines useful if they are working with clients who are dealing with comorbid mental health conditions. In addition, the guidelines could be combined with training and supervision programs for the AOD workforce.