How do adults with substance dependence access treatment services? A qualitative descriptive study of help-seeking and behaviour change

Adults are less likely to access health services for substance use disorders, than any other psychiatric disorder, despite high prevalence, morbidity and mortality. Comorbid substance use and psychiatric disorders cause moderate to severe illness and disability, yet only half of people diagnosed perceive the need for and then access health care. Of the people that do access treatment, many drop out or are dissatisfied with the service.

This study explored client experiences of help-seeking and accessing drug treatment services. To understand how people engage in health intervention for substance misuse and comorbid mental health and welfare issues.

A qualitative descriptive research design was utilised. Eight participants were recruited from drug treatment programs at one community health setting that serviced a larger regional area in Victoria, Australia. In-depth interviews focussed on experiences of substance use, health issues, help-seeking and service utilisation were used to collect the data. Each interview was digitally-recorded and transcribed verbatim by the researcher.

Interview transcripts and other descriptive data sources including field notes, were thematically coded using principles of phenomenology. From this, four descriptive themes emerged; polydrug use, comorbid health conditions, help-seeking experiences, and health behaviour change. Findings and discussion provide a valuable insight on the client experience of problematic drug use and the influence of illness, attitudes and structural barriers on treatment access.

Help-seeking was facilitated by social support networks and regional inter-agency partnerships and service models. Future research and changes to health policy are strongly recommended to consider issues of polydrug use and comorbidity, primarily mental illness, employment and homelessness.

Ms Nerida Hyett, La Trobe Rural Health School
Co- Authors: Dr Virginia Dickson-Swift, La Trobe Rural Health School
Dr Carol McKinstry, La Trobe Rural Health School

Nerida will present at the:
4th Australian Rural and Remote Mental Health Symposium to be held on the 19 - 21 November 2012, Adelaide, South Australia.

Web:  http://anzmh.asn.au/rrmh  | Email: ruralhealth@anzmh.asn.au

Expanding help-seeking options for young people by delivering mental health services online – the eheadspace experience

Young people have the highest need for mental health care across the lifespan, yet the lowest level of service use. Improving access to appropriate mental health care and increasing engagement with services is a priority for mental health reform in Australia. Providing services and interventions via online and mobile technologies is increasingly a focus for improving access and engagement for young people.

It is argued that because of the almost universal uptake and integration of online and mobile communication within young people’s lives, this is one of the best ways to reach this age group. eheadspace has been developed to augment the headspace youth mental health initiative to increase access to mental health care through a national online and telephone support service for young people.

eheadspace was rolled-out nationally in October 2011 and comprises a clinically supervised, youth-friendly, online mental health information and support service that offers an accessible ‘soft entry’ point to the mental health system.

This paper will describe the development and roll-out of eheadspace and present data on the characteristics of young people accessing the service. The limitations and challenges of such an online intervention approach will be described, with discussions about the role of such approaches in the mental health care system.

Ms Carmen Garrett, headspace will present at the
4th Australian Rural and Remote Mental Health Symposium to be held on the 19 - 21 November 2012, Adelaide, South Australia.

Web:  http://anzmh.asn.au/rrmh  | Email: ruralhealth@anzmh.asn.au