Understanding Substance Abuse in Adolescents: A Primer for Mental Health Professionals

2008 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals

Influence of an educational program on mental health professionals' knowledge and perceptions of problematic alcohol and other drug use

2004 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Bill Carta ◽  
Brenda Happell ◽  
Jaya Pinikahana
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Educational Program ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Problematic Alcohol ◽  
Problematic Drug ◽  
Drug And Alcohol

The issue of co-morbid substance abuse and mental illness is clearly identified in the literature. The adequacy of the knowledge and skills of mental health professionals to deal with the complex problems associated with this co-morbidity has received considerable attention. The effect of an educational program on mental health professionals? knowledge and perceptions of problematic alcohol and substance abuse was measured in a questionnaire survey in Victoria, Australia. The aim was to determine if an educational program could facilitate knowledge and attitudinal change among mental health professionals. In the pre-survey, a questionnaire on knowledge, skills, attitudes and practices was administered to 378 clinicians in Victoria (133 were returned, representing a 46% response rate). In the post-survey, 131 questionnaires were returned (response rate 35%). Significant changes in knowledge were reported following the educational program in the areas of overall knowledge of drug and alcohol, diagnosis of drug and alcohol abuse, and management of drug and alcohol abusers. While positive attitudes towards problematic drug and alcohol issues were expressed, specific educational programs to enhance their knowledge and skills in assessment and management of problematic drug and alcohol users are recommended.

Challenges in working with patients with dual diagnosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 60-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pernille Pinderup
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Substance Abuse Treatment ◽  
Dual Diagnosis ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Abuse Treatment ◽  
Dual Diagnosis Treatment ◽  
Single Focus

Purpose Studies have shown that mental health professionals find working with patients with dual diagnosis challenging, and the purpose of this paper is to examine some of these challenges. Design/methodology/approach In total, 85 mental health professionals from 8 different mental health centres in Denmark were interviewed. The data analysis was inspired by a grounded theory approach. Findings Different challenges in the dual diagnosis treatment were identified and they suggested that the focus of treatment was mainly on the mental illness rather than the substance use disorder. The single focus of the treatment made it challenging to treat patients with dual diagnosis sufficiently. While several studies explain the single focus by inadequate competencies among professionals, the present study suggests that the single focus is also explained by the way that the treatment is organised. For instance, standardized treatment packages and insufficient guidelines on substance abuse treatment make it challenging to treat patients with dual diagnosis. Originality/value This paper suggests that a more flexible, and a longer period of, treatment, together with more sufficient guidelines on dual diagnosis treatment and a more formalized collaboration with the substance abuse treatment centres, will make it a less challenging issue to treat patients with dual diagnosis.

scholarly journals Decision (not) to disclose mental health conditions or substance abuse in the work environment: a multiperspective focus group study within the military

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. e049370
Author(s):  
Rebecca Bogaers ◽  
Elbert Geuze ◽  
Jaap van Weeghel ◽  
Fenna Leijten ◽  
Nicolas Rüsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Military Mental Health ◽  
Leadership Support ◽  
Sustainable Employment ◽  
The Military

ObjectivesMany workers in high-risk occupations, such as soldiers, are exposed to stressors at work, increasing their risk of developing mental health conditions and substance abuse (MHC/SA). Disclosure can lead to both positive (eg, support) and negative (eg, discrimination) work outcomes, and therefore, both disclosure and non-disclosure can affect health, well-being and sustainable employment, making it a complex dilemma. The objective is to study barriers to and facilitators for disclosure in the military from multiple perspectives.DesignQualitative focus groups with soldiers with and without MHC/SA and military mental health professionals. Sessions were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was done using a general inductive approach.SettingThe study took place within the Dutch military.ParticipantsIn total, 46 people participated in 8 homogeneous focus groups, including 3 perspectives: soldiers with MHC/SA (N=20), soldiers without MHC/SA (N=10) and military mental health professionals (N=16).ResultsFive barriers for disclosure were identified (fear of career consequences, fear of social rejection, lack of leadership support, lack of skills to talk about MHC/SA, masculine workplace culture) and three facilitators (anticipated positive consequences of disclosure, leadership support, work-related MHC/SA). Views of the stakeholder groups were highly congruent.ConclusionsAlmost all barriers (and facilitators) were related to fear for stigma and discrimination. This was acknowledged by all three perspectives, suggesting that stigma and discrimination are considerable barriers to sustainable employment and well-being. Supervisor knowledge, attitudes and behaviour were critical for disclosure, and supervisors thus have a key role in improving health, well-being and sustainable employment for soldiers with MHC/SA. Furthermore, adjustments could be made by the military on a policy level, to take away some of the fears that soldiers have when disclosing MHC/SA.

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