Page 1160 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 4 May 2022
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them. But they also have significant economic and healthcare costs associated with their treatment and management. Given these challenges, it is critical that appropriate supports are in place.
It is therefore no surprise that people with mental illness and substance use issues are a key priority group in the National Drug Strategy 2017-26, in the ACT government’s Drug Strategy Action Plan 2018-21 and in the next drug strategy action plan that is currently being developed. It is also a key commitment that is outlined in the 10th parliamentary and governing agreement for the Legislative Assembly, which includes commitments to improve programs that target and support alcohol or other drug use and mental health together.
In responding to this need, it must be acknowledged that people experiencing mental illnesses and substance use issues experience differing levels of severity and that there are potentially a very large number of combinations that result in a wide spectrum of mental illness and substance use co-occurrence presentations.
As such, there is no one single model of care or service that can cater to the needs of all people. The ACT government recognises that better integration of existing services, and collaboration and engagement across the service system, is crucial to prevent people from falling through the cracks. The integration of mental health and substance use services requires a tiered model that can provide a spectrum of services and supports that are available and skilled to effectively meet each individual’s unique needs.
Integration refers to a wide range of coordination and collaboration activities between the sectors, which are able to provide holistic support for people across the spectrum of mental health and alcohol and other drug issues. These include activities focusing on supporting cross-referral, multidisciplinary teams, cross-sector training and education, and supporting people to navigate through the system.
So what is in place now? Across the ACT there is a wide range of both mental health and alcohol and drug services that range from prevention and early intervention services through to tertiary inpatient services for people who need intensive supports.
These services are delivered by a mix of government and non-government organisations. This range of services supports people at the differing stages of need, and combinations of support can reflect the potentially differing level of needs of people with co-occurring conditions. This is a critical goal for the health system in order to be able to provide the right level of care at the right time and in the right place. Most of these services are provided free or at low cost to clients. Our public mental health and alcohol and drug services provide supports at the middle and tertiary levels, with the mental health and the alcohol and drug services integrated and managed within the one division of Canberra Health Services.
The Mental Health, Justice Health and Alcohol and Drug Service Division, also known as MHJHADS, provides an integrated structure under one executive director and enables a close working relationship between each of these services and more coordinated governance and administrative processes.
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