co-occurring conditions
and stigma
What are
co-occurring conditions?
​​Stigma around mental health and addiction is a barrier.
Be the bridge.
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​​​​Welcome to our campaign focused on improving support for people with co-occurring conditions. Co-occurring conditions refers to when people experience both mental health conditions and addiction at the same time.
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Understanding co-occurring conditions is key to providing effective support. This combination can create unique treatment and support needs, and it’s important for healthcare providers to offer integrated and complete care.
Co-occurring conditions are common. Research shows that mental health conditions are experienced by 70% of people using drug services and 86% of those using alcohol services in community substance use treatment in the UK1.
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These conditions are complex, and often interlinked. People with co-occurring conditions often face barriers to accessing appropriate and holistic care, including stigma and a lack of integrated services.
1. Weaver et al (2003) Comorbidity of substance misuse and mental illness in community mental health and substance misuse services. The British Journal of Psychiatry Sep 2003, 183 (4) 304-313
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“What we really need is a service that can do both, something unified. Because when people don’t fit neatly into one box, they fall through the cracks.” - Anonymous, Crisis Team Practitioner
Co-occurring conditions and stigma
Stigma around co-occurring conditions can stop people from feeling able to seek the help they need.
Negative attitudes and beliefs about mental health and addiction can lead to discrimination, and social exclusion. This, sadly, can also impact the quality of care that people receive.
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People who work in healthcare services play a crucial role in reducing stigma. By using supportive language, showing empathy and applying best practices in your work, you can help create a more understanding and inclusive environment for people with co-occurring conditions.
Working group
The NHS APA currently runs a co-occurring conditions working group which is focused on making a positive difference in the treatment of co-occurring conditions.
If you are an existing NHS APA member and you’d like to get involved, please email peter.Keeling@mpft.nhs.uk.