Dual diagnosis in rural Australia: A Victorian initiative.

Dear Sir, The Victorian Royal Commission into Mental Health and Well-being highlighted the prevalence of co-occurring experiences of mental illness and addiction. The Dual Diagnosis team consists of a dual diagnosis clinician and an addiction psychiatrist who work closely with alcohol and drug (AOD) clinicians; local general practitioners (GPs); and other allied health services, including mental health, correctional, child protection, employment, family and housing services. The supported primary consultation model, whereby the client is accompanied/supported by their GP and relevant clinicians during the psychiatrist assessment, has been a powerful component of the program. [Extracted from the article]