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A substantial number of people in the ACT are impacted by Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) issues, mental health challenges and other health conditions. The provision of quality primary health, AOD and outreach support services is of key importance to tackling these issues.
CHN has funded the following two programs through CatholicCare to address these needs.
a) Reaching Out
Reaching Out provides outreach drug and alcohol counselling where support staff meet clients in a place that is convenient and where clients feel most safe and comfortable. The service can be provided to anyone with alcohol or drug issues (over the age of 13) and also provides screening for mental health, domestic and family violence, suicide risk and brief interventions and individual treatment plans to clients.
The Reaching Out Program has continued to grow and thrive over the last year. As can be expected during times of crisis, the level of complexity in client presentations increased and Reaching Out counsellors drew on new and established networks to support their clients. Counsellors were able to rapidly transition to telehealth during COVID-19 lockdown, while still providing safe face-to-face support for those that needed it. The number of participants doubled compared to the previous year with 248 participants supported over the last year, with an average of 62% reporting a reduction in their alcohol and other drug used and 8% reporting sustained abstinence.
Reaching Out counsellors also further progressed the Young African Men’s Support Group initiative. They have connected with the Worldview Foundation and are currently supporting 13 clients within the Foundation that offers individual counselling to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander young people (aged 18-25 years).
Client story
Serena* (not their real name) migrated to Australia many years ago when she was a young adult. Regular drinks with friends after work becoming a daily routine, Serena identified that she had a problem. Serena left her job and was managing, but then her husband had a serious car accident and she became his Carer. Serena said “her whole world was crumbling in front of her”. Soon after, her parents who lived outside Australia contracted COVID-19 and passed away. This was too much for her and she started drinking again.
Serena decided to self-admit into detox. Following completion, she was referred to Reaching Out for counselling. Serena started drinking again soon after leaving detox as she could not cope with the loss of her parents. Earlier sessions focused on small changes to Serena’s lifestyle and routines using an acronym from a simple health program NEW START: good Nutrition, Exercise daily, have plenty of Water, some Sunshine with sun cream, Trusting yourself “I can do it”, plenty of fresh Air, value time to Rest and relax, and Temperance – everything in balance and moderation. This approach seemed to resonate with Serena and she was very enthusiastic, going for walks, gardening, and spending more time with her children.
Once Serena was stable in her routines, the counsellor shifted focus to relapse prevention, polyvagal responses to trauma and compassion therapy so as to strengthen the gains Serena had made.
Serena says she still finds the death of her parents challenging. This has been further complicated by her inability to travel home as a result of COVID and ongoing conflict in relation to the parents’ estate. The counsellor and Serena discussed strategies based on transactional analysis to manage this conflict. This also informed part of her relapse prevention plan, where the counsellor facilitated role playing. The counsellor continued to support Serena for a period of three months, with Serena reporting she continues to maintain abstinence from alcohol following her exit from the program.
b) Support Connections
Support Connections works in partnership with anyone who wants to stop or reduce their use of alcohol or drugs (over the age of 16 years). The program assists clients to make changes in their lives, connect them with other health and community services, develop crisis and relapse prevention plans, or explore harm reduction strategies to help clients become more in control and improve their health and wellbeing.
The AOD Support Connections (AODSC) Case Management Program has provided outreach to 82 participants (over 350 occasions of service) over the last year. The number of participants has increased by one third compared to the previous year. During lockdown, support was provided primarily through telehealth to ensure client and staff safety. However, when needed, the Case Manager provided much needed face-to-face services to vulnerable clients. The Case Manager has continued to work closely with housing and homelessness services, allied health providers and numerous community agencies to provide holistic and coordinated care for a highly complex client group. This has been ever more important due to the stressors of the COVID-19 lockdown and subsequent increase in client complexity.
Client story
Peter* (not their real name) was referred to the Support Connections AOD Case Manager by the Reaching Out Counsellor who was seeing him at the time. Peter was a business owner before issues in his life impacted his capacity to work. When he started seeing the AOD Case Manager, Peter was unemployed and consuming a carton of beer each day. Peter lives with anxiety and stated he suffered bullying as a child due to his sexuality and appearance.
Peter has attempted recovery in the past when he attended the detox unit and remained abstinent before returning to his home where alcohol is rife and began drinking again. Over the period of engagement with Support Connections, Peter has been able to reduce his alcohol consumption from 24 to 18 cans of beer a day. Peter has consulted with his GP for a change in medication to manage his anxiety and has relevant referrals to address health issues related to his drinking.
Peter has been assessed for the Canberra Recovery Services (CRS) Day program and supported to attend an assessment prior to commencement of the day program. Peter has arranged to move in with a family member after detox to be in a more supportive and appropriate environment for abstinence.
Peter continues to see his AOD Case Manager weekly to coordinate the recovery process and support with his low self-esteem and self-worth. Peter continues to engage in self-exploration around his core beliefs and thinking patterns that are detrimental to him. Peter is also looking at relapse prevention strategies to help him develop healthier coping skills.
