It is generally accepted that rates of substance use are higher among those with mental health problems compared to those without, and that people who use illicit drugs are more likely to experience mental health problems than non-users.

General practitioners see the majority of substance use and mental health co-morbidity in the community and they have an important role in intervention, relapse prevention and coordination of care.

The Can Do Initiative is a new national resource developed by the Australian Divisions of General Practice for general practice and community health teams. It aims to better equip primary health care providers with the knowledge and tools to identify, treat and support service users with mental health, substance use issues and other associated complex vulnerabilities.

This program provides an introduction to this new initiative and explores the needs of patients with mental health and substance use issues and how they can be recognised and effectively managed.

The program also looks at available support services and resources for GPs.

Learning outcomes
After viewing this program, participants will:
- Understand service user perspectives of living
with mental health and substance use
disorders.
- Understand the epidemiology, prevalence and
combinations of mental health and substance
use.
- Recognise common presentations and implement
holistic treatment strategies for patients
with mental health and substance use co-
morbidities.
- Identify appropriate management pathways
focused on developing and maintaining access
to services for diverse consumer groups.

Duration: 90 minutes.
Broadcast details:
The program will be broadcast live on Channel 4 of the Foundation's satellite network on Tuesday 10 October 2006 at:
- 9.00pm in TAS.
- 8.00pm in ACT, NSW, VIC & QLD.
- 7.30pm in SA & NT.
- 6.00pm in WA (& repeated in WA at 8.00pm on channel 23).

It will be repeated on Channel 23 on Friday 13 October 2006 at:
- 1.30pm in TAS.
- 12.30pm in ACT, NSW, VIC & QLD.
- 12.00pm in SA & NT.
- 10.30am in WA.

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