Last month 360Edge released a report making the case for maintaining the unique specialisation of alcohol and other drug and mental health sectors, despite recent calls for integration. 

Many government departments, including the latest Productivity Commission report into mental health, have recommended greater integration of alcohol and other drug services into the mental health system. But we disagree - the evidence just isn’t there.

There is no doubt that there is a high co-occurrence of alcohol and other drug use and mental health problems in the Australian community.

People with complex alcohol and other drug and mental health problems often ‘fall through the gaps’ in our health system. Many have trouble accessing help due to stigma.

Clients and their families often report that they feel like they are ‘bounced around’ between different service providers with little continuity of care.

Up until now, the go-to solution to bridge these gaps has been to combine or ‘integrate’ alcohol and other drug and mental health services to provide a ‘one stop shop’. 

The problem is that, because the two areas are so different, this approach typically ends in failure. clients and their families are no better off. We need another way. These failures mean a radical rethink of alcohol and other drug and mental health services is needed.

Our report argues that rather than trying to merge sectors, a model of ‘holistic care’ should be adopted where alcohol and other drug service and mental health services co-exist as specialities but improve their internal capability and external collaboration.
 
360Edge will be hosting a free online panel discussion on 3 March about improving the relationship between alcohol and other drug and mental health services.

Find out what the new thinking on comorbidity is all about at our free webinar with guest speakers including:

• Professor Nicole Lee, CEO at 360Edge and Adjunct Professor at NDRI
• Professor Steve Allsop, Professor at the National Drug Research Institute
• Jennifer Duncan, CEO at The National Peak Australian Alcohol and other Drugs Council
• Representatives from the National Mental Health Commission.

Click here for more information and to register.