Dual diagnosis
Breaking down a complex issue
Dual diagnosis, or the route to treating people with mental health and problematic substance misuse issues, is not a new problem but has been hugely misunderstood and underestimated for a long time.
We now know, after years of research and using first-hand experience, that people diagnosed with mental health problems are often users of illicit drugs or alcohol, and that the scale of the problem is much bigger than anyone dared recognise. For example, in a major study of people involved in substance misuse treatment, one in five people reported recent psychiatric help.
There are so many factors that go into deciding the best course of treatment for a person with complex needs and we also know that for a person to want to approach our services they need to feel that they are understood. So we assess the bigger picture - their domestic situation, do they have food and shelter, are there children involved, do they have any access to primary care? We cannot treat a person until we have fully reached the core of their problem and exhausted every avenue in search of a solution.
Each case is entirely unique, so once we have reached the heart of the matter we can then get on with delivering the appropriate care.
Our services:
- Assess and manage a client's risk
- Understand and use the Care Programme Approach
- Offer types of treatment from substance misuse and mental health services
- Offer complementary therapies
- Involve service users and carers in planning treatment
Click here to read our Dual Diagnosis Publications