Young people are set to benefit from more coordinated care, with the development of new resources to help youth mental health workers take an integrated approach to supporting young people experiencing mental health and substance use issues.
Substance use and mental ill-health are often interconnected but treated in isolation – meaning more appointments, multiple workers and treatments which don't always take the complexities of a young person's life into account.
In response, Orygen has developed new resources – a clinical practice guide and an accompanying video – bringing together evidence from young people with lived experience, subject matter experts and research to support mental health workers in addressing substance use and mental health issues among young Australians aged 12-25.
The new resources offer practical advice and steps for embedding substance use treatment into mental health practice, equipping clinicians to better support young people’s mental health and wellbeing and reduce potential harms from substance use.
Co-author of the resource and member of Orygen's Knowledge Translation team, Stephanie Stewart, said the relationship between substance use and mental health is complex, with one often influencing the other.
“It’s really important to engage with young people about their substance use – but many young people feel uncomfortable talking to mental health clinicians about it, due to shame or stigma,” she said.
“We know substance use during adolescence can have a number of potential impacts – particularly on things like education, employment and relationships – and early substance use can also increase the risk of developing substance use disorders in later life.
"We shouldn’t demonise young people for using substances – and these new resources support mental health workers to take a respectful, non-stigmatising approach to talking about substance use as part of routine practice.”
The new resources recognise that often substance use and mental health are interconnected, and that treating one issue without addressing the other risks treatment being ineffective.
“We encourage mental health workers to take a curious and respectful approach when talking to young people about their substance use,” Stewart said.
“We need to normalise these conversations, and listen to young people’s experiences without judgement, so we can understand the role substances play in their life, and how this intersects with their mental health and wellbeing.”
Core principles of this embedded approach include early intervention, taking a person-centred approach, de-stigmatising substance use, being culturally responsive and focusing on harm reduction.
The resources also set out suggested ‘do’s and ‘don’ts’ when talking to young people about substance use, and offers a framework for holistic approaches to care that consider the biological, psychological , social and cultural factors impacting a person’s life.
“By minimising shame and stigma, mental health workers can offer more comprehensive support that truly addresses the holistic needs of young people,” Stewart said.