How can we improve mental health care accessibility for people with substance use disorders?

Jürgen MAGERMAN^1,2, Ilse GOETHALS¹, Mégane CHANTRY³, Pablo NICAISE³, Wouter VANDERPLASSCHEN², Jessica DE MAEYER¹

¹Research Collective EQUALITY, HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
²Department of Special Needs Education, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
³Research Institute for Health and Society (I.R.S.S), UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium

According to a government report from 2022, healthcare provision for people with mental health and addiction problems is considered to be too high-threshold. To address this issue, the Substance Use and Mental Healthcare InTegration (SUMHIT) project was initiated to study the accessibility of regional mental health networks for people with substance-related disorders. The research group selected relevant barriers to seeking professional help based on the output of previous quantitative and qualitative research. The selection criteria of these barriers were the possibility to have impact by field workers and relevance for the working field. These barriers were presented to 5 panels of professionals and experts by experience in the Belgian regions where the previous surveys were conducted. As a result, professionals and peer workers were encouraged to explore possibilities to lower the threshold to professional mental health and specialised addiction care. Through a three-hour GPS methodology, a brainstorming session was initiated to ceate some concrete solutions.

The brainstorm session focused on formulating solutions to the negative effects of waiting lists, how intake criteria can be used as a means of alignment, and how caregivers can respect the choices clients make, even if it would not be the appropriate way to go according to them. The brainstorm session further explored how to build a real working network with and around a client, as well as ways to work more trauma-sensitive. The suggestions focus on adapting and refining methodologies that are already used, as well as on a more radical commitment to network-based care for people with substance use disorders.