Understanding Co-occurring Substance Use and Mental Health

This training will be delivered by Becky Blithell from Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT) and provided by Norfolk County Council in collaboration with Change Grow Live Norfolk.
Face to face session - no virtual alternative.
Location: The Norman Centre, Bignold Road, Norwich
Time: Arrival 08:45, Training 9:00 - 13:30

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be made available on arrival and during breaks. We are unable to provide lunch - kindly make alternative arrangements by bringing your own.
Parking available on site.
Training Content:

This training explores the complex interplay between mental health difficulties and substance use, emphasizing that co-occurring conditions are common and require integrated care. The trainers will cover the biopsychosocial model, highlighting risk factors such as trauma, adverse childhood experiences, neurobiology, and social determinants and their relevance to substance use.

The session explains how substances affect neurotransmitters, leading to neuroadaptation, tolerance, and dependence, and why people use substances for coping, connection, or relief. Key mental health issues discussed include depression, anxiety, psychosis, PTSD, and emotionally unstable personality disorder. Considerations around stigma and its impact on engagement will be considered. The workshop stresses that substance use and mental health difficulties often reinforce each other, creating cycles that worsen functioning. There is reference to national policy which advocates joint treatment and trauma-informed approaches.

Participants will be encouraged to reflect on their roles, challenge misconceptions, and consider short- vs long-term effects when supporting clients.

• Please only book a place if you are certain you can attend. Places are limited and absences impact on others that could benefit from this training.
• When you have booked via Eventbrite, we will also ask you to confirm your space by email a week before the event. This is to ensure that you can cancel in good time should you need to.
• Booking your place confirms you have approved this with your Line Manager.
• We do not accept bulk bookings or booking on someone else's behalf. If you think someone on your team would like to book, please send them the Eventbrite link so they can book their own place in their own name. Duplicate bookings will be cancelled.
• Please fill out the order form in full. You may risk losing your space if the form is not completed.
• If you book a place and do not attend without informing us or your cancellation, this may incur a fee of £100 for your organisation. Please cancel in good time.
• We reserve the right to fine your organisation £100 for last minute cancellations and no-shows.
• If you do need to cancel, please do so in good time by emailing [email protected] and cancel your place via Eventbrite as soon as possible so that others may have the opportunity to attend.
• Photos may be taken at the event and a list of all the professional attendees, their organisations and email addresses may be emailed to all after the event for their own purposes. Please inform your trainer on the day if you do not wish to be added.

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Host or Publisher Change Grow Live Norfolk