Thanks for checking in on the latest from our team!

Stigma continues to be one of the biggest barriers to better health outcomes, particularly in mental health and substance use care. These remain among the most stigmatised health conditions worldwide, and tackling this challenge calls for action on several fronts: education, open dialogue and systemic change.

• We’re pleased to share two new online modules focused on understanding and addressing stigma in mental health and addiction care. They’re free for the Victorian mental health and Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) workforces.
  

• On the research front, we’ve just released a brief exploring how stigma shows up in mental health and AOD settings, with a focus on the ‘double stigma’ experienced by people with co-occurring conditions. You can read the full brief here.
  

• Our partners at Turning Point have just launched a message guide on “Framing Addiction and Dependence”, which has some great lessons and takeaways for clinicians, service providers and people working in policy and advocacy roles. Download the guide here.
  

• We also have a research project underway aimed at supporting inclusive practice across mental health services in Victoria. Using an implementation science approach, we’re co-designing a lived experience-led intervention that supports equitable care, developing a range of multimedia resources in partnership with peer workers and service providers. We look forward to sharing more soon.
  

• And finally, we’re excited to announce that our next regional workshop on pharmacotherapy will be held on 9 October in Wangaratta. With around 29% of this year’s online workshop attendees coming from regional areas, it’s fantastic to be taking more training out to where it’s needed most. We’ll be in touch with local services soon with more details.

As always, feel free to reach out to our team if you’d like to chat about anything in this newsletter or explore how we can support your work.