I run an addiction unit at one of the private hospitals in victorian. I was wondering if any of you experience people out there could give me some information about:
1. different types of programs which fit with persons who have either an alchol or drug addiction with an underlying mental health problem.
2.My hospital is one of many throughout australia and is attached to the mental health stream throughout the organisation. How is staffing calculated for your unit. Is it on a ratio basis ie: 1 to 15 or is it calculated on individual patient need requirement? Certainly the patients that are admitted to us are physically well able to look after themselves however some life skill training is required.
3.What type of counselling is given to your patients, is it given by a qualified psychiatrist, nurse counsellor, in the forum of a group and individual.
4. What type of group counselling is carried out? on what philosophy is it based and is there any available scientific reseach to state that it works?
I know this seems to be full of lots of questions however we are in the midst of a program review. The current program does "the group process" incorporating the power of the group,it is facilitated by a counsellor but it appears to be a 'little' bit punitive and confrontational. I cannot find any research to state that this method of therapy is of any benefit to patients and i am concerned that it may be almost a "bully and harassment approach which may do more damage than benefit. What do any of you out there think.
pedelle
