The Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA) is pleased to release our report Mental Health Presentations in the AOD Sector.
This report, drawing on data provided by the Victorian alcohol and other drug (AOD) sector and correlated against data from the Victorian Agency for Health Information, confirms long held anecdotal evidence, that people presenting for alcohol and drug treatment in Victoria do so with very high levels of mental illness and psychological distress.
While reform of Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing system continues to recommend improving outcomes for people living with mental illness and substance use or addiction, as highlighted by the report, significant limitations continue to prevail at the service delivery and systems level to appropriately achieve the integration of AOD and mental health supports.
Key findings in the report include:
- 83% of clients accessing AOD treatment services in Victoria were reported to have a diagnosed mental health disorder or display or describe symptoms of a mental health condition
- 82% of AOD service users were reported to display or describe symptoms of psychological distress.
- 32% of AOD service users reported to have experienced suicidal ideation.
- 73% of clinical time was spent on providing mental health interventions.
- Victorian AOD treatment services provide on average 50 hours per week of unfunded mental health crisis interventions to people seeking AOD treatment amounting to 200,000 hours of unfunded work across these services per annum.
The report lists seven recommendations which can significantly improve the support provided to Victorians when presenting to AOD treatment services with co-occurring mental health needs.
Pleasingly these recommendations are in line with priorities in the draft Victorian AOD Strategy around the integration of care and systems. This gives hope that the vision of the Mental Health Royal Commission to improve outcomes for people living with mental illness and substance use or addiction in Victoria can still be achieved.
VAADA thanks agencies, clinicians and service users who gave their time to inform the findings of this report.