Assignment
Learning Outcome
1. Provide services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues
2. Assess and promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing
3. Work in an alcohol and other drugs context
Complete the two tasks:
I. Task I: Research and report on AOD issues and responses for a target group. You need to choose one target group from the list and answer the four questions that follow about this group.
II. Task II: Read the case study provided and answer the eight questions that follow.
Task I
Research and report on AOD issues and responses for a target group.
For this task you need to choose one target group from the list below and answer the four questions that follow about this group.
NB: You will need to do some research beyond the information provided in the learning materials to be able to answer the questions well, and an Internet search is a good start.
Target Groups
a) People with a mental health disorder
b) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
c) Prisoners
d) Young people
e) People from non-English speaking backgrounds (you can choose a specific background if you wish)
f) Gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender/intersex (GLBTI) people (you can choose one of these groups if you wish)
g) People in rural or remote regions of Australia
i. How does society and/or the media generally view or portray this group? What are some of the stereotypes about this group? You need to provide examples to support your conclusions, i.e. a brief survey of people you know, or evidence from newspapers or TV programs.
ii. How might this group's alcohol and other drugs use be influenced by social, cultural or environmental factors?
iii. What are some of the important issues for this group in regard to their alcohol and other drugs use? This could include looking at the impact that alcohol and other drugs use has on their health; legal problems that arise; financial issues and the consequences for relationships, including family, work and friends.
1. What types of services or projects would be useful to minimise the harms of alcohol and other drugs use for members of this group? Briefly explain how they might be useful in minimising harms. Think about services or projects that focus on the alcohol and other drugs user in the context of their environment and social influences.
Task II
Read the case study provided below and answer the eight (8) questions that follow.
Case Study
Peter was diagnosed with schizophrenia 20 years ago. He has been tried with a number of antipsychotics over the years, with varying levels of compliance with medication due to side effects. He is a heavy smoker (more than 40 per day), has gained 30 kilos and spends most of his time sitting watching television and drinking beer (10 cans a day). His smoking and drinking means he has little money left for food, and he lives on cheap takeaways. He is currently living in a room in a boarding house, but will have to leave soon as the building has been sold. He has no idea where he will go. Peter left school at age 17 with poor literacy skills and has not worked for a number of years. He is not involved in any social activities, has no hobbies and has lost contact with most of his family and friends. His elder sister has offered support in the past and Peter used to be involved with his local church.
Peter would like to change his lifestyle and improve his physical health but doesn't know where to start.
i. What stage of change is Peter currently at? How will this affect your working with Peter?
ii. What would you do to assess Peter's wellbeing?
iii. What are Peter's current social, cultural, physical and emotional wellbeing issues?
iv. For each aspect of wellbeing, suggest some changes Peter might decide to make in his life.
v. What barriers might Peter experience in making his chosen changes?
vi. What supports would Peter need in each of his areas of change?
vii. What approaches would you use to work with Peter to promote his social and emotional wellbeing? Why do you think these approaches would be useful?
viii. How would you review and record Peter's wellbeing after working with him for a while?