mental health - search results

[…] qualifications? Should coercion be used to get people into treatment? Do talking therapies work? DDN heard the debates. Opposing the motion: Caroline Frayne, Central and NW London Mental Health NHS Trust It’s important to look at the quality of workers, at workforce strategy and at the range qualifications – NVQs, degrees, diplomas and FDAP accreditation. […]

[…] perspective which communi- cates positive messages about drug treatments,’ says IHRA. Similar guide- lines are already used to prevent sensationalist reporting in the fields of HIV and mental health. Presidential plea The former president of Brazil, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, has added his voice to calls for a drug policy based on harm reduction and decriminalisation. […]

[…] and disorder and send out the message that drug offences will not be tolerated. The Safer Bolton Strategic Partnership includes the council, police, prison, probation service, PCT, mental health trust and fire and rescue service. Detail in the statement includes an agreement to set a minimum price for alcoholic drinks and a dispersal policy to […]

[…] a last resort, according to a new report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. It should never be used with very vulnerable street users, such as those with mental health problems, The impact of enforcement on street users in England concludes that while ‘softer’ forms of enforcement like controlled drinking zones were effective in reducing the […]

[…] government policy throughout the year, although the Department of Health did also issue its first alcohol indicator for the NHS as part of its 2008/09 operating framework. Mental health charity Rethink meanwhile urged the government to ‘stop wasting time and money’ debating cannabis classification and focus on education instead. The announcement that a series of […]

[…] issues. The themes will be alcohol and young people (Cambridge, 2 March), working with families (Nottingham, 9 March), effective inter- ventions and complex needs (London, 10 March), mental health and sexual health (Bristol, 18 March) and criminal justice (Newcastle, 1 April). Details at www.drugscope.org.uk/newsandevents/ ukevents/ News in Brief More service cooperation needed to protect vulnerable […]

[…] council and I've recently presented to the board about the barriers that this population will encounter – low confidence, low self esteem, criminal records, dealing with disclosure, mental health. ‘There is a lot of scepticism about this, about benefit sanctions – from drug services, from the DATs, from service users. People are quite concerned about […]

[…] When people come from fundamentalist positions (which I am suggesting these two individuals do) they end up twisting facts, and the world, to fit them. Niall Scott, mental health and substance use worker, Staffordshire. Dying for a chance In my native Scotland in the 1970s there was a small group of people addicted to various […]

[…] challenges traditional policy approaches to alcohol. A collaborative venture between the International Centre for Alcohol Policies (ICAP), the International Harm Reduction Association (IHRA), the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) and the Institute de Recherches Scientifiques sur les Boissons (IREB), it argues for a pragmatic approach, based on ‘what is possible and feasible’. This means […]

[…] changing services for the better by building people’s confidence and competence. Our courses cover: People skills Management skills Training and Presentation Specialist topics – Drugs, Alcohol and Mental Health Book onto our open course programme (see listings opposite – online booking now available), or bring us in to work alongside you to deliver bespoke, tailor-made […]

[…] the decision to downgrade it from a class B to class C drug. Home Secretary Charles Clarke requested the review, following recent studies that link cannabis with mental health concerns – specifically the development of psychosis. The range of experts giving evidence included Danny Kushlick, Director of the Transform Drug Policy Foundation, who opposed reclassification […]

[…] Jenkins. ‘Prison doctors do not have the resources, infrastructure or time to assess and treat the large numbers of inmates who enter the penal system with severe mental health and drug addiction problems that in many cases have led to their convictions,’ she said. See the next DDN for full reports from the ‘Prisons and […]

[…] tant things we have done, along with others, is to set up the shared care ser vice, so people can get their scripts from GPs and not mental health ser vices and it is ver y normal for users,’ says Telfer. ‘GPs should be able to cope, but if not they can refer people on.’ […]

[…] the smoking-related harm experienced by drug service users. We recognise that drug services are more than busy enough already. Service users with, say, heroin dependency, homelessness and mental health problems to address, may place smoking cessation low on their list of priorities too. The evidence suggests, however, that addressing tobacco dependency is not a distraction […]

[…] prescribing is concerned. The other major concern was the level of ignorance exposed, particularly on the effects of polydrug use, the signs of alcohol dependency, and detecting mental health problems. By talking and listening we can at least try to get to the root of what’s not working – so lets take debate way beyond […]

[…] prescribing is concerned. The other major concern was the level of ignorance exposed, particularly on the effects of polydrug use, the signs of alcohol dependency, and detecting mental health problems. By talking and listening we can at least try to get to the root of what’s not working – so lets take debate way beyond […]

[…] according to research from the Institute of Psychiatrists at King’s College London. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) – funded report examined the consequences of deployment on the mental health of almost 10,000 armedforces personnel between 2003 and 2009. Although alcohol is banned when troops are deployed, cheap alcohol is available to troops stationed overseas. ‘Our […]

[…] Birmingham’s 12,000 drug users will be offered the support they need through a new state of the art centre. Result of a partnership between Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust and Birmingham DAT, Orsborn House was opened by Clare Short, MP for Ladywood, who said it was ‘fantastic that a medical service of such high […]

[…] 2 & 3 Dec 08 (*£250) Relapse prevention 25 & 26 Nov 08 Dual diagnosis 9 & 10 Dec 08 Supervision skills 20 & 21 Jan 09 Mental health first aid 2 & 3 Feb 09 Groupwork skills 26 & 27 Feb 09 Motivational interviewing 10 & 11 Feb 09 Training for trainers 3 & […]

[…] is available online at www.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB1 22/B122_R2-en.pdf News |Round-up www.drinkanddrugs.net 11 February 2008 | drinkanddrugsnews| 5 Rethink: ‘stop wasting time on cannabis...’ The government has been urged by mental health charity Rethink to ‘stop wasting time and money’ debating cannabis classification and focus instead on educating the public about its associated mental health risks . Its […]

[…] • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • JUNE 2020 In the meantime, some will finb benzos anb start to self-mebicate. When anb if the young person boes access mental health services there is a goob chance –s in classic ‘bual biagnosis ping psong’ – that they will be tolb they have a primary presenting brug problem […]

[…] users.’ Protecting young people – more targeted action needed Drug support agencies are failing to engage with Khat users despite their increased risk of problems relating to mental health and social breakdown, according to social care charity Turning Point. Traditionally used by communities in the UK originating from Somalia, Ethiopia and Yemen, the green leaved […]

[…] feature page 6). The NTA’s 2007 user satisfaction survey found that most service users felt their treatment had had a positive effect, leading to better physical and mental health as well as improved housing and employment prospects – more than 90 per cent reported less drug use and crime since beginning treatment and around 80 […]

[…] for inpatient and residential rehabilitation substance misuse (drug and alcohol) services 2007/08 and 2008/09 addendum guidancehas been sent to PCT and SHA chief executives, as well as mental health trusts and regional offender managers to provide additional guidance to the regional forums and DAATs. If another bidding round is required, regional forums have been invited […]

[…] specific needs. These needs might relate to housing, education, health or employment. Furthermore, ‘some young people from Black or Minority Ethnic groups have problems accessing services oftenbecause of language or cultural issues,’ said Kimberley Edmonds, the report’s lead author. There needed to be more training for non-drug specialists working with vulnerable people, in line with national standards, according to the report.Behaviours not only needed to be identified, but young people should then be assessed regularly for ongoing needs relating to counselling or treatment. Resources for this should be on top of the £65m allocated to local young people’s services by the young people’s partnership grant. Professor Mark Bellis, director of the National Collaborating Centre for Drug Prevention and for the Centre of Public Health, said: ‘The case for good drug prevention in the UK is unequivocal… We  must ensure that resources for prevention are used to fund programmes of proven effectiveness, especially for those most likely tobecome drug users.’ Protecting young people – more targeted action needed Drug support agencies are failing to engage with Khat users despite their increased risk of problems relating to  mental health and social breakdown, according to social care charity Turning Point. Traditionally used by communities in the UK originating from Somalia, Ethiopia and Yemen, the green leaved plant is chewed to create a similar stimulant effect to amphetamine. Turning Point have raised concern that Khat use w as seen as very low priority in local drug strategies, despite many of those surveyed displaying symptoms of depression, anxiety, appetite loss and sleepdisturbance. The social problems experienced by many members of these communities, such as unemployment, family breakdown and socialex clusion gave a different setting for Khat use in Britain that was not being accounted for.  ‘What […]

[…] together to provide the help and support people need to overcome drug and alcohol dependency and get back to work’ – including a focus on issues like mental health and housing. Under the original proposals people would have had to undergo the assessments where there was ‘reasonable grounds to suspect that they are dependent on, […]

[…] society.’ Alcohol study shows treatment to justify its investment Patients’ experiences in trying to come off psychiatric drugs show serious flaws in the doctor-patient relationship, according to mental health charity Mind. Publishing its Coping with coming offreport, Mind says 40 per cent of patients interviewed saw their GPs as ‘not helpful’ in helping them come […]

[…] "Drug/Alcohol Awareness e.g. Alcohol Facts; Drugs Awareness Levels 1,2,3 "Skills Development e.g. Motivational Interviewing; Relapse Prevention "Professional Development e.g. Introduction to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Drug Workers; Mental Health and Substance Use; Parental Substance Use and Child Protection NOCN Coming soon – new NOCN suite of Level 3 qualifications in Tackling Substance Misusewith 5 endorsed […]

[…] working with Cornwall Council to deliver drug and alcohol treatment requirements within the judicial system for more than nine years. In 2020 a unique opportunity to combine mental health treatment requirements (MHTRs) with drug rehabilitation requirements and alcohol treatment requirements was identified by NHS England, the mental health commissioner in NHS Cornwall and the Isles […]

[…] at their most acute in the tier 3 prescribing sector. Composed largely of specialist substitute prescribing clinics, these ser vices were in the near-exclusive grip of NHS Mental Health Trusts. It is estimated that, in the year 2000, 60 per cent of total drug treatment expend- iture was allocated to this group of providers, to […]

[…] up to homelessness, childcare issues, and the threat of violence. It is likely that she will need psychological as well as physical support, and might be experiencing mental health problems from years of abuse or fear. The Home Office strategy benefits from the experience of those who work closely with women in this situation. They […]

[…] improve the health of people in the criminal justice system, Improving health, supporting justice, which aims to strengthen joint working between health and criminal justice agencies. ‘ Mental health problems – whether drug misuse, learning disabilities or a personality disorder – can lock people into a cycle of disadvantage and criminality,’ said care services minister […]

Ania Couchinho, Forward’s research and impact lead and expert in Black maternal health, highlights the importance of providing mental health and addiction support for all women this Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 (5-11 May). The birth of a child is often described as one of life’s most joyful milestones. But for many Black women, […]

[…] a greater role for business and the voluntary sector in providing trainingand employment opportunities. The ‘right services should be available across the spectrum’, it says – ‘housing, mental health, including substance and alcohol abuse, employment, education and skills and family and relationships.’ ‘Communities need to be given far greater responsibilities to deal with offenders,’ said […]

[…] a greater role for business and the voluntary sector in providing trainingand employment opportunities. The ‘right services should be available across the spectrum’, it says – ‘housing, mental health, including substance and alcohol abuse, employment, education and skills and family and relationships.’ ‘Communities need to be given far greater responsibilities to deal with offenders,’ said […]

[…] in the physical world and suppport them to access the online poffer. THE LESSONS What are we learning as ap result of all this? • Isolation and mental health have been key issues raised, especially from those in supported housing as they are almost confined to their bedrooms (although we know that not all are […]

[…] " Specialist Counselling for Substance Misuse  " Supervised Counselling Practice  " Developing as a Counsellor  " CBT for Common Problems  Qualification:Certificate in Higher Education consisting of 120 credits at Level 4. Successful completion of the course will provide participants with the main skills and knowledge required by the Drug and Alcohol National Occupational Standards (DANOS).   Short courses (OCN accredited and non-accredited) " Drug/Alcohol Awareness e.g.  Alcohol Facts; Drugs Awareness Levels 1,2,3 " Skills Development e.g.  Motivational Interviewing ; Relapse Prevention " Professional Development e.g.  Introduction to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Drug Workers;  Mental Health and Substance Use; Parental Substance Use and Child Protection NOCN Coming soon – new NOCN suite of Level 3 qualifications in T ackling Substance Misuse with 5 endorsed routes: " Commissioning and Planning Services (aimed at service com- missioners and others involved in managing local strategies) " Practitioners (aimed at Drug Workers) " Drugs Education " Managers (aimed at senior practitioners and team leaders in drug treatment services) " Generalist Worker (aimed at those with another specialism but taking a special interest in working with drug users).  In order to achieve this DANOS mapped qualification, a learner must complete a total of 15 unit credits at Level 3 made up of: " One mandatory unit at 6 unit credits " A choice of optional units at 9 unit credits In-house bespoke training […]

[…] health crisis of monumental proportions. In our hospitals for instance, people in A&E depar tments are convinced they are seeing large numbers of people with alcohol related mental health problems, diseases, alcohol injuries, and so on, when, in fact, they are not. I know this is true, because no-one with power and money to do […]

[…] focuses on the role of cocaine on nightsout,again via cameos of users, posing the usualquestions about the benefits and risks of cocaine use interms of physical and mental health. The series’ main shortcomings revolve around the absence of implanting poly substance use as acomplicating factor. It feels like the programme Comment | Letters www.drinkanddrugsnews.com 8 […]

[…] rising – with recent figures showing increasing ambulance waiting times, deepening elective care backlogs (currently 6.84 million people), and the fact the number of people waiting for community mental health care has risen to 1.2 million. Meanwhile, the cost of living crisis is cutting into department budgets and workforce shortages have reached a record high – the Expert […]

[…] that. I like to pop downstairs, because I enjoy the interaction. You can get the odd one that can be difficult as they often have dual diagnosis mental health problems, but it keeps it interesting. Every day is different. Mark Farrell is assistant ser vice manager at Hopkinson House, an Equinox care centre. A A […]

Mental health and substance use treatments can complement each other in vital ways, says Peter Lindsayhall. I am a dual-qualified mental health nurse and psychotherapist, and I’ve worked across NHS Scotland, NHS England and the private sector. My focus has been on primary care mental health providing broad access care for all, and my […]

[…] field, the joined- up thinking doesn’t always come naturally. A copy of DDN came winging its way back to us from the information officer of a main mental health charity with an explanator y note: ‘please take us off your mailing list – it’s too directed at drink and drugs for our needs. There are […]

[…] With visiting lecturers, Professor Alex Copello (Birmingham and Solihull Substance Misuse Services & the University of Birmingham) and Lorna Templeton (MHRDU at Bath – Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust and the University of Bath) presenting current research For details and an application form: Families Plus Jill Cunningham House, East Knoyle, Salisbury, Wiltshire […]

[…] and the drinks industry will also be held. Dual best practice A new good practice handbook for those working with people affected by both substance misuse and mental health problems has been launched by social care organisation Turning Point. The Dual Diagnosis Good Practice Handbook contains a wide range of case studies from settings ranging […]

[…] down. Dr Joss Bray Performance pressure I was interested to read last issue’s letters, commenting on data collection (DDN, 23 April, page 8). I work for a mental health trust, commissioned to provide the adult Tier 3 services in South Essex. My job role is to ensure the timely submission of drug and alcohol information […]

[…] to invest in alcohol, he points out, and down to primary care trusts to weigh up spend on alcohol and tobacco, alongside allocating resources for hip replacements, mental health, cancer, heart disease and everything else. Sure, there’s a strong argument that the NHS should be investing more in alcohol treatment, he says, but that’s not […]

[…] it harder for young people to buy alcohol.’ Available at www.jrf.org.uk/publications News | Round-up 16 November 2009 | drinkanddrugsnews| 5 www.drinkanddrugsnews.com Alcohol abuse at ‘shocking’ levels Independent mental health care providers Priory Group has warned of a ‘shocking’ level of alcohol abuse in the UK following the publication of new research last week. According to […]

[…] that. I like to pop downstairs, because I enjoy the interaction. You can get the odd one that can be difficult as they often have dual diagnosis mental health problems, but it keeps it interesting. Every day is different. Mark Farrell is assistant ser vice manager at Hopkinson House, an Equinox care centre. A A […]

[…] on the intended price. ‘Alcohol misuse is a major public health concern which kills thousands of people every year and causes a multitude of physical, behavioural and mental health problems,’ said NICE’s public health director, Professor Mike Kelly. ‘What’s more, it costs the NHS over £2bn annually to treat the chronic and acute effects of […]

[…] as reduce anxiety, fear, anger and sadness. It is also having extraordinary long-term effects on a wide range of areas such as life choices and physical and mental health, and helping people to conquer destructive thought patterns imprinted in early life. It doesn’t matter what phase of addiction a person is in, MR can help […]

[…] and sponsorship packages email eian@cjwellings.co m DDN will be hosting The 8TH NATIONAL SERVICE USER INVOLVEMENT CONbERENCE on 1b February 2015, in Birmingham. BOOK YOUR TICKETS online at www.brinkanbbrugsnews.com/SUconf15 Here’s a little reminder of what we got up to last year... EndnotE A DECADE OF DDN In banuary 2005 we canvassed opinion on cannabis reclassification,  a year after it was changed from a class B to class C drug… The politician: Mo Mowlam ‘This is an absurd situation. An activity which is very common, much enjoyed and relatively harmless, is  made illegal.’ The doctor:  Clare Gerada ‘Long-term use can lead to acute and chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and asthma and is also associated with mouth, tongue and stomach cancer. There are also the  mental health risks, especially schizophrenia.’ The substance misuse worker:  Stacy Bunting ‘The law has made little impact. Most young people view cannabis to be the least harmful of all the illicit drugs,  and "it’s not as bad as drinking alcohol or smoking fags".’ The user:  Kate ‘Everyone does it, you don’t need to bother hiding it anymore. Everyone’s totally blatant about it now.’ The police officer:  Gordon Blake ‘There is now a belief that it is actually legal and you can’t be arrested for it. They are very surprised to learn that if you are found with cannabis on you, you are still likely to be arrested.’ The youth worker:  Steve Aherne ‘Most young adults think cannabis should be legalised and freely available from your local chemist. This would help with the drug’s purity and lower the amount of dealers on the street.’ The magistrate  ‘There has been a slight decrease in the number of prosecutions for personal possession… usually as a result of being picked up by the police on an unrelated matter such as a driving offence.’ The transport worker:  Ben branklin ‘We have always had problems with people smoking dope on […]

[…] 01283 722150 Email: sales@blithesystems.com Web: www.blithesystems.com Leading the way in Substance Misuse computing The Brief 5-step Family Intervention (Professor Alex Copello) 9th November, 2009 Basic Management of Mental Health Problems for Drug Workers 18th November, 2009 Auditing for Substance Misuse Services 27th November, 2009 Advanced Management of Mental Health Problems for Drug Workers 15th December, […]

[…] framework for young adult services, which could take the form of a Green Paper. We will be looking to work with colleagues in other sectors – including mental health and criminal justice – to campaign for a more joined-up approach to transitional arrangements. Dr Marcus Roberts is director of policy and membership at DrugScope Young […]

Prime minister Theresa May has announced a range of measures to ‘transform’ mental health support across the country. Tackling the ‘burning injustice’ of mental ill health would be part of the government’s wider commitment to ‘wholesale social reform’, she told the Charity Commission’s annual lecture. Theresa May: Government is committed to tackling ‘burning injustice’ of […]

[…] executive of the organisation, Duncan Selbie, has spent more than 30 years working in the NHS and Department of Health, including stints as chief executive of a mental health trust, a strategic health authority and, most recently, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals. He tells DDN about how the new body will work with the treatment […]

There’s much to be done to bring together substance misuse and mental health services so we can offer effective care for dual diagnosis, says Taf Kunorubwe ‘Before we can offer you a psychiatric assessment, you need to be abstinent for a minimum of two months.’ How often do service users receive such responses? My experience […]

[…] with WIRED Your fortnightly magazine |jobs|news|views|research 8 May 2006 www.drinkanddrugs.net CARE OR CONTEMPT? News Round-up Edinburgh takes action on needle danger | Changes on the way to Mental Health Act | RCGP workshop presentations |Berkshire’s T2 celebrates |Research and guidance listing | Media watch | 4 Features Cover story It’s a lottery Are we delivering […]

[…] it in the neck for not improving performance. They’ll forget all this took such a long time. ‘It’s already having an effect on people’s health. My local mental health trust has already had to cut alcohol service provision and lost full-time staff. Alcohol services will always suffer because of the NTA money being ring-fenced for […]

[…] with WIRED Your fortnightly magazine |jobs|news|views|research 8 May 2006 www.drinkanddrugs.net CARE OR CONTEMPT? News Round-up Edinburgh takes action on needle danger | Changes on the way to Mental Health Act | RCGP workshop presentations |Berkshire’s T2 celebrates |Research and guidance listing | Media watch | 4 Features Cover story It’s a lottery Are we delivering […]