Hamilton Centre Podcast | Exploring Mental Health & Addiction

Welcome to the Hamilton Centre podcast, where we delve into integrated care within mental health and addiction services across Victoria, Australia.

In this episode hosted by Annie Williams, our Relationship and Partnership Lead, we’re joined by Sally Thomas (Senior Social Worker) and James Steevenson (Senior Psychiatric Nurse) from the Hamilton Centre Service Navigation Team. This team plays a crucial role in providing navigation, advocacy, support, and referrals for individuals facing complex and high-risk alcohol and other drugs (AOD) and mental health issues.

Takeaways:

• The Hamilton Centre Service Navigation Team offers vital support and expertise to AOD and mental health workers, helping them connect clients with the appropriate services.

• They offer a mentorship line to support clinicians with complex cases, providing expert guidance on addiction and mental health services.

• Developing a strong therapeutic alliance between clinician and client is key to achieving successful outcomes.

• The AOD Pathways service is available to support clients and their families in navigating the AOD sector.

This episode explores the value and importance of lived experience workers in an integrated care model. Host Annie Williams is joined by Sally Chin and Lee-Ann, who bring their experiences and perspectives as part of the Hamilton Centre clinical team at Eastern Health. Sally highlights the challenges faced by individuals with co-occurring mental health and addiction issues and the need for coordinated care. Lee-Ann emphasises the value of including people with lived experience in interdisciplinary teams and how their insights can inform and validate the care provided. The conversation also touches on the changes in staffing profiles for alcohol and drug services over the years, with a shift towards a more diverse and client-centred approach.

Takeaways

• Integrated care is crucial for individuals with co-occurring mental health and addiction issues, as it improves prognosis and coordination of care.
• Including people with lived experience in interdisciplinary teams brings authenticity, validation, and a unique perspective to the care provided.
• The role of clients in their own treatment is increasingly recognised, with a shift towards a more human-centred approach.
• The staffing profiles for alcohol and drug services have evolved to include a more diverse range of professionals, promoting a holistic and collaborative approach to care.

In this episode, Annie Williams, Clinical Transformation Lead at Hamilton Centre, welcomes Dr Thileepan Naren, a GP and Addiction Medicine Specialist with interests and experience in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare, custodial health, and drug and alcohol management, along with Tracy Wrigley, a Registered Nurse with extensive experience in the AOD sector, as well as health service redesign and clinician education in Australia and the UK.

They highlight the importance of collaboration between the mental health and addiction sectors in delivering integrated care, discussing barriers to seamless integration and the need for education and stigma reduction. The Hamilton Centre plays a pivotal role in treating patients with co-occurring conditions and amplifying the voices of marginalised individuals. 

Including people with lived and living experiences in the interdisciplinary team is crucial for promoting integrated care. The guests advise service providers seeking to implement or improve integrated care initiatives, emphasising the importance of involving individuals with lived experience in the planning and decision-making process. They also express excitement about the Hamilton Centre's future expansion into rural and regional areas, aiming to reach and support more people. 

Takeaways:

• Collaboration between the mental health and addiction sectors is vital for integrated care delivery.
• Education and stigma reduction are crucial for overcoming integration barriers.
• The Hamilton Centre plays a pivotal role in treating patients with dual diagnoses and advocating for marginalised individuals.
• Involving people with lived experience in the interdisciplinary team is essential for promoting integrated care.
• Service providers should involve individuals with lived experience in planning and decision-making for integrated care initiatives.

In this episode, Annie Williams, Hamilton Centre Transformation Lead, interviews two guests from the Hamilton Centre Clinical Network at Austin Health and Goulburn Valley Health: Professor Edward Ogden PSM, an experienced Alcohol and Other Drug Consultant, and Allison Szarejko, a Mental Health Nurse and Clinical Lead. They highlight the importance of building relationships and understanding the needs of individuals and services in order to provide effective integrated care. They also emphasise the need to address stigma and unconscious biases in the healthcare system. The guests discuss the challenges and rewards of working in rural and regional areas, as well as the importance of education and training in the mental health and substance use fields.

Takeaways

• Building relationships and understanding the needs of individuals and services are key to providing effective integrated care.
• Addressing stigma and unconscious biases is crucial in the healthcare system.
• Working in Victorian rural and regional areas presents unique challenges and rewards.
• Education and training in the mental health and substance use fields need to be improved.
• Integrated care requires collaboration and a client-focused approach.

In the first episode, Shalini Arunogiri, Clinical Director at the Hamilton Centre, interviews Dan Lubman, Addiction Psychiatrist and Executive Clinical Director at Turning Point, and Lisa Jarvie, Clinical Quality Improvement Lead at the Hamilton Centre. They discuss the importance of integrated care in the mental health and addiction sectors, the challenges faced by workers, and the role of the Centre in providing support and upskilling. They also touch on the need for data collection and evaluation to drive improvement and address gaps in the system. The episode concludes with a vision for the future of the Hamilton Centre, which includes service expansion and a unified approach to care.

Takeaways

• Integrated care is crucial in addressing the complex needs of individuals with mental health and addiction issues.
• Workers need support and upskilling to effectively provide care for individuals with co-occurring conditions.
• Data collection and evaluation are essential for driving improvement and addressing gaps in the system.
• The Hamilton Centre aims to expand its services statewide and create a unified approach to care.
• The ultimate goal is to provide meaningful support to all individuals seeking mental health and addiction services.