Post by 619852 on Dec 12, 2015 22:34:53 GMT
Dual diagnosis is when a person is affected by both mental illness and substance use (also referred to as the use of alcohol and/or drugs). Mental illness and substance use interact to make each diagnosis worse and to have serious, adverse effects on many areas of functioning (including work, relationships, health, and safety). Recovery from mental illness is much more challenging for people with a dual diagnosis, and the issues faced by families of people with dual diagnosis can be more complex and confusing than mental illness alone.(Dual Diagnosis Australia & New Zealand (DDA&NZ), 2009). According to DDA & NZ (2009), it’s estimated that approximately 40-80% of consumers experiencing a mental illness are also affected by substance use.
I found the Dual Diagnosis study day to be very relevant and informative particularly to the acute adult ward in which I have had in my second rotation. I feel that my greatest learning came from the information provided regarding the importance of assessing and treating an individual for both their mental illness and their substance use. I can now understand the importance of identifying both the mental illness and substance abuse within a consumer’s presentation, and the requirement to treat both of these presenting issues in order to provide holistic and appropriate care. Also I learned the connection between mental illness and substance use which is the intention of patients to medicate the mental health symptoms that they find disruptive or uncomfortable by using alcohol and drugs.
I will implement what I have learned into my everyday practice and try to have a supportive relationship toward my patients generally because I find it easier for them to tackle their drug problem when having someone around to encourage them to find new ways of dealing with old problems
I found the Dual Diagnosis study day to be very relevant and informative particularly to the acute adult ward in which I have had in my second rotation. I feel that my greatest learning came from the information provided regarding the importance of assessing and treating an individual for both their mental illness and their substance use. I can now understand the importance of identifying both the mental illness and substance abuse within a consumer’s presentation, and the requirement to treat both of these presenting issues in order to provide holistic and appropriate care. Also I learned the connection between mental illness and substance use which is the intention of patients to medicate the mental health symptoms that they find disruptive or uncomfortable by using alcohol and drugs.
I will implement what I have learned into my everyday practice and try to have a supportive relationship toward my patients generally because I find it easier for them to tackle their drug problem when having someone around to encourage them to find new ways of dealing with old problems