SPR30831 WLF SPA WhitePaper v12 - Flipbook - Page 21
Substance abuse and alcohol consumption
Recommendations
The provision of timely and community-based support has been commonly raised as a
recommendation for suicide prevention throughout literature 79. Through multidisciplinary
approaches, it has provided people greater flexibility as they tackle not just substance use
problems, but other life problems 80. The outbreak of COVID-19 has resulted in the emergence of
a variety of services such as counselling being held remotely via telehealth, or the use of
technology for many organisations to work from home 81. This has implications on service
delivery as the move to online delivery expands the reach of and individual accessibility to many
services.
Telehealth is an example where government funding allows vulnerable persons to access vital
consultations and services remotely to maintain social, physical and mental health 82. Similar
programs in the United States have also been raised in the literature to assert that the
combination of government funding with widely reaching services, is a strong approach to
reducing the health inequities that are exacerbated by the current circumstances 83. We suggest
for the government to continue to fund telehealth and other flexible service provisions for
individuals who experience substance use problems. As an upstream prevention measure,
government funding of community awareness campaigns to support early detection and
prevention of substance use problems, may also lessen the impact on frontline acute service in
meeting increased demand because of COVID-19.
We ask government to consider:
• funding tailored (preferably pre-service) suicide prevention training and education for frontline
hospital staff
• include addressing suicide risk within future national, state and territory drug and alcohol
strategies
• funding packages to support screening by alcohol and substance service providers for
mental health issues and suicidal ideation in at-risk clients and consumers.
Reducing distress in the community following the COVID-19 pandemic
June 2020
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