Mental health and drug and alcohol use poses many challenges for professionals. Workers may feel unskilled or unable to provide adequate support in dealing with this complex area, with services often in disagreement in what are causing the problems.
Course description
Dual Diagnosis training course. This course focuses on drug use and mental health (dual diagnosis). The course aims to provide information on how drugs, alcohol and mental health issues interrelate and how to work effectively with this client group.
Target audience
- Workers in contact with mental health clients using illegal drugs
- Community Mental Health Teams
- General Practitioners, Practice Nurses, Accident and Emergency Staff
- Social Workers, Supported Housing Workers, Probation Staff
Aims and objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Examine terminology and how different terms alter their meaning depending on your work role
- List ways in which patterns of substance use can impact on a client’s mental health
- Describe how illegal drugs may negatively affect mood and emotional states
- Review and develop working protocols, information sharing and referral pathways
Drug & alcohol national occupational standards
- AA1: Recognise indications of substance misuse
- AB2: Support individuals who are substance users
- MH2: Enable people with mental health needs to access and benefit from a service
