Mental Health

ADS knows that there is a close relationship between alcohol problems and mental health.  Mental health problems not only result from drinking too much alcohol. They can also cause people to drink too much. Alcohol problems are more common among people with more severe mental health problems. This does not necessarily mean that alcohol causes severe mental illness. Drinking to deal with difficult feelings or symptoms of mental illness is sometimes called ‘self-medication’ by people in the mental health field. This is often why people with mental health problems drink. But it can make existing mental health problems worse.

Evidence shows that people who consume high amounts of alcohol are vulnerable to higher levels of mental ill health and it can be a contributory factor in some mental illnesses, such as depression.

ADS (Addictions Dependency Solutions) have specialist workers who liaise and work alongside The Community Mental Health Teams and other professionals to develop a package of care for people with complex needs. This may be anything from low level depression/anxiety to those who have more complex needs. The client needs are at the centre of any care plan we put together and all our clients are treated individually with respect and flexibility in order to secure a recovery within an integrated and holistic overall approach.