Embedded practice: the principles underpinning substance use and mental health treatment approaches
There is a high prevalence of co-occurring substance use and mental health issues among young people aged 12-25 who are accessing mental health services in Australia. The relationship between substance use and mental health is complex, with each often influencing the other.
Embedded practice is the integration of mental health and substance use treatment approaches by an individual mental health worker. Within an embedded practice framework, equal attention is given to both substance use and mental health as part of routine care. This approach addresses the interconnectedness of a young person’s mental health and substance use and acknowledges that treating one issue without addressing the other reduces the efficacy of treatment overall.
This video series explores the core principles of embedded practice through a collection of videos. Youth mental health professionals define and explore each principle and share practical strategies to integrate the principles into practice.
To support and guide practice, the series combines evidence from young people with lived experience of mental ill-health and substance use, subject matter experts, and research evidence.
The series runs for approximately 35 minutes and is best viewed in sequential order.
Explore this Orygen resource for more information on the topic:
Orygen would like to acknowledge and thank the young people who engaged in the focus groups, which informed the development of this video series.
Special thanks to all the people who have appeared in the videos: Steve Leicester, Dual Diagnosis and Addiction Stream Lead, Orygen; Stephanie Stewart, Mental Health Social Worker/Clinical Educator, Orygen; Dr Enrico Cementon, Consultant Psychiatrist, Orygen and The University of Melbourne; Sarah Cutler, Mental Health Social Worker/Clinical Educator, Orygen; Clarrisa Carbone, Family Peer Worker, Orygen.
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Suggested citation: Embedded practice. The principles underpinning substance use and mental health treatment approaches [video]. Melbourne: Orygen; 2024.
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