💡 Understanding the Process
Active treatment is the core phase of recovery, where clients engage in structured interventions to stabilise their mental health and substance use. This phase requires multi-disciplinary collaboration and personalised care plans tailored to individual needs.

🔵 Goal: Actively Support Recovery & Stabilisation

Key Challenges:

  • Managing withdrawal symptoms while addressing mental health needs.
  • Medication adherence and managing side effects.
  • Risk of disengagement due to cognitive, emotional, or social barriers.
  • Limited housing, employment, or financial stability impacting treatment.
  • Coordinating between multiple agencies (mental health, substance use, social care).

Interventions May Include:

  • Medication Management: Antipsychotics, antidepressants, opioid substitution therapy (OST), and medication for withdrawal management.
  • Structured Psychosocial Interventions: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), relapse prevention therapy.
  • Integrated Substance Use & Mental Health Care: Dual diagnosis-specific treatment planning and co-occurring disorder management.
  • Housing & Social Support: Assistance with securing stable accommodation, employment support, and peer group involvement.
  • Trauma-Informed Care Approaches: Recognising past trauma and avoiding re-traumatisation in treatment.
  • Physical Health Monitoring: Managing conditions such as liver disease, diabetes, malnutrition, or blood-borne viruses (BBVs).

Best Practices:

  • Ensure multi-disciplinary collaboration (MH teams, GPs, social workers, substance use teams).
  • Develop a relapse prevention plan alongside harm reduction strategies.
  • Encourage service user-led care plans to foster autonomy and engagement.
  • Address physical health issues (BBVs, nutrition, sleep, chronic conditions) alongside mental health treatment.
  • Incorporate peer support & lived-experience interventions to build hope and community.
  • Regularly review treatment plans and adjust based on client progress and feedback.

How Do I Achieve This?

  • Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to provide integrated care.
  • Conduct regular risk assessments to adjust interventions as needed.
  • Provide psychoeducation on medication adherence and managing side effects.
  • Support clients in setting realistic short-term and long-term goals.
  • Use motivational approaches to encourage continued engagement in structured therapy.
  • Ensure follow-up care plans to maintain stability post-treatment.

🚀 Key Takeaway: Active treatment requires a structured, person-centred approach that integrates mental health, substance use, and social support interventions to promote long-term recovery.