Frontline support – uniting to find the hidden harm

Many services commissioned by local authorities failed to ask if the individual accessing them had served within the armed forces. This comment from Tony Wright is striking in its simplicity and revealing in its explanation of why so many veterans find themselves struggling alone to adapt to life back in the civilian community.

It’s an issue that comes up regularly in Parliamentary circles; maybe our case study from the US veterans court can inspire a different – and more humane – approach that reflects respect and gratitude as well as service provision.

In this month’s profile, Roland Lamb shares another vision of supporting vulnerable people. ‘One in every 100 Americans is incarcerated… we have broken families… a lot of fragmentation all over the place.’ Once again tackling this starts with communication, getting substance and mental health services to integrate so they can reach out effectively. It’s a cohesive ethos that many UK services are doing their best to foster in an attempt to reach society’s most vulnerable. Adfam has addressed the difficult area of child to parent abuse through a new report and Cinzia Altobelli looks at ways to support clients who are victims of all kinds of domestic abuse. By tackling taboos together, the hidden harmed stand half a chance.

Don’t miss! Featured inside this month’s printed magazine:

AUTUMN 2012 TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORY

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Magazine Features

NEWS FOCUS
Will Public Health England and a new ministerial team help to refocus drug and alcohol policy, or are they empty exercises in rebranding? DDN reports.

A VETERAN PERFORMANCE
Tony Wright visits an inspiring US initiative to divert military veterans with substance issues away from the criminal justice system, and contrasts the lack of support here.

NEW ERA
A lot has changed since the advent of the CQC and there are more changes on the way. David Finney explains what services can expect in the coming months and years.

THE LAST TABOO
More support is needed for victims of abuse perpetrated by their children, says Oliver Standing.

JOINING FORCES
New partnership-led training aims to help victims of domestic abuse incidents where substances
are an issue, says Cinzia Altobelli.

IT’S WHERE YOU’RE AT
Harm reduction should be about ‘meeting people where they’re at’, according to the recent HIT
Hot topics conference. Jamie Bridge reports.

LIBERTY TO CHANGE
Philadelphia is integrating its substance and mental health services to provide seamless support
for vulnerable people. David Gilliver talks to its director of addiction services, Roland Lamb.

SPREADING THE EVIDENCE
Grace Ball reports back from the UK Recovery Academy’s recent Manchester conference.