Mind your step: developing effective mental health training for alcohol and other drug workers

Abstract

Mental health problems are common among drug treatment clients with most symptoms related to anxiety and depression. In this study, we used an established manual for alcohol and drug practitioners known as PsyCheck that outlines basic mental health screening and intervention for high prevalence disorders. The aim of this study was to examine changes in clinician's mental health screening and intervention activities post-training. One hundred ninety-five staff members from 13 alcohol and drug services across Australia participated in the training, which consisted of 2 days of practical instruction in comorbidity and the use of the PsyCheck manual. The package takes a symptom-focused approach. A clinical file audit was undertaken prior to and 6 months after the training to examine changes in clinicians' screening and intervention activities. The results showed increases in screening for mental health problems 6 months after training. Although the study is methodologically limited, it suggests that manualised treatments, with the addition of training and post-training support, can improve alcohol and other drug practitioners focus on mental health screening and intervention.

Keywords:

• PsyCheck
• dual diagnosis
• comorbidity
• screening
• training
• substance use

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by a grant from the Illicit Drugs Section, Drugs Strategy Branch, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing through the National Comorbidity Initiative. The authors would like to thank Pauline Kenny and Tracey Brooke for their significant contribution to data collection, Eloise Leeson-Leahy for her data entry support and Sanja Pahoki for her assistance with the client outcome interviews. We also thank Dr. Madonna Devaney for her assistance with the analysis.

Notes

^†Present address: National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA), Flinders University, and LeeJenn Health Consultants Pty Ltd