MEDIA RELEASE
For release 19 June 2006
Managing the mix - your mental health & alcohol use
According to the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation, 1 in 4 people in Australia living with mental illness also have another problem, such as alcohol dependence. In relation to these alarming community health statistics, many GPs in the Illawarra are concerned about the rates of alcohol use in patients who also live with mental illness. Dr Rob Watson is a Wollongong GP who has helped deliver education sessions locally and elsewhere in the state on alcohol and mental health comorbidity.
“Comorbidity is the term we use when a patient has at least two conditions at the same time, in this case mental illness and dependence on drugs or alcohol. Substance abuse can worsen the patient’s mental illness, particularly if they are also taking medication for their condition. GPs are trained in diagnosing and managing mental illness and know where to refer patients for more intensive treatment of substance abuse and mental illness,” Dr Watson said..
To help people identify if they, or someone they know, has a mental health problem as well as problematic abuse of drugs or alcohol, Dr Watson suggests asking a series of simple questions.
“Questions such as ‘Do you often feel sad or depressed?’, ‘Are you worrying a lot about things?’, ‘Have you been annoyed by friends or family criticising your drinking/drug taking?’ can help you pinpoint any problem areas,” Dr Watson said. He recommends that, if you answer “yes” to any of these questions, you should seek help.
Your first avenue of support should be your local doctor. Your local doctor can help you make your way through the health system and find the right support for you.
Apart from worsening mental health problems, prolonged substance use can damage other systems in your body. “Users open themselves up to all sorts of health problems – from contracting liver disease through excessive alcohol usage, and respiratory problems from smoking tobacco and cannabis,” according to Dr Watson. This can also affect the health of other members of the users’ family, friends and workmates.
To help GPs diagnose and manage these patients, the Illawarra Division of General Practice has developed an education resource on comorbid alcohol abuse and mental illness, which is being used by GPs across the country.
“A large part of this education process is networking with mental health and drug and alcohol agencies, so that we are aware of the services and are able to refer more appropriately,” said Dr Watson.
Media Contact: Monique Piper, Community Relations Manager, IDGP ph 4226 7052 or 0413132479
