Dual Diagnosis: Substance Misuse and Mental Health

To apply you must have at least one year of experience working in any area of substance misuse work or mental health work and 60 credits at level 2 in a related area, or equivalent.

This course is offered at Level 3 (Degree) and Masters level and is delivered at our Glenside Campus.

Course content includes:

• Outline alcohol and drug prevalence in the UK, reasons for use, the progression of dependency, and the desired and undesired effects of alcohol and drugs.
• Define dual diagnosis, the relationship between mental health and substance use.
• Examine common co-existing mental health and substance misuse presentations, which include cannabis and psychosis, alcohol and mood , stimulant and novel psychoactive substances (Legal Highs).
• Assessment, screening tools and brief interventions.
• An integrated approach covering medical, social, psychosocial and psychotherapeutic aspects of care. Frameworks will include the Cognitive-Behavioural Integrated Treatment Approach (C-BIT) from the UK and the New Hampshire Model of Integrated Care from the US.
• An evidence informed approach, framed by a stage-wise model. This would will include engagement strategies, building motivation for change, active treatment and relapse prevention. Harm reduction/minimisation as a risk management strategy; therapeutic risk taking.
• Pharmacological interventions.
• National guidance, such as NICE guidelines and national policies.
• Collaborative working with users and carers/significant others.
• Explore the integration of recovery capital and peer working into mental health services.
• Legal and ethical aspects of care delivery, supervision, outcome measurements and service innovation.

The course has an emphasis on the integration of substance misuse interventions into co-existing mental health care delivery. It covers common co-existing conditions but does not cover standalone mental health diagnosis and interventions.

Delivery:

Study time totals 48 hours in the form of seminars, lectures and online activities enhancing classroom learning. The course includes a two day clinical placement of your choice supporting your own identified learning needs, which you will need to organise.

Please note: Priority will be given to applications received through our funded educational contracts. Places on this module will be limited for applications received outside of this funding. Please check with your employer as a funded contract place may still be available to support your learning.