Co-occuring mental health and substance use: voices of service users and carers

Healthwatch Hertfordshire wanted to understand what mental health support was needed for people who were substance users. They spoke to 39 people.

Substance use and mental health go “hand in hand” with one another. For some, substances were used as an escape from their ill mental health and/or trauma. For others, their substance use predated their ill mental health, and found their mental health deteriorated due to their overconsumption of substances.

Accessing support for mental health and substance use at the same time is challenging. Many were not given mental health support until they had stopped using substances. Participants called for mental health services to allow people using substances to access support for their mental health.

Communication between drug and alcohol and mental health services needs to be improved. The majority found that drug and alcohol services and mental health services are fragmented and do not communicate with patients or with each other. Many were passed “back and forth” between the services.

Care and support need to be holistic. Many felt the care they received looked at their substance and ill mental health in isolation, meaning their issues were treated individually despite being related to one another.

Mental health and drug and alcohol services work well individually. Participants shared that they received high-quality care from services when they accessed either mental health services or drug and alcohol services separately and generally had positive experiences.