Australia needs more residential drug and alcohol rehab services for young people and existing programs need to offer complementary mental health care to be more effective, according to a new Mission Australia report released today.
Launched by Australia’s pre-eminent youth mental health expert, Professor Patrick McGorry, at an event hosted by Pru Goward, the Minister for Family and Community Services,
'Triple Care Farm: A Safe Place for Change' explores the successful service model that supports young people experiencing problems with substance abuse and mental illness.
The report into Mission Australia’s
Triple Care Farm – a residential program in the NSW Southern Highlands for young people aged 16 to 24 years – says the service dramatically reduces alcohol and drug use, homelessness, and improves employment and training opportunities by addressing addiction and mental illness at the same time.
The former Australian of the Year and Executive Director of
Orygen Youth Health told guests at the launch at NSW Parliament House “it was a national disgrace that so few of these services were available”, and added there was a need for new thinking and new systems for supporting young people with mental health and drug and alcohol problems.
“When you look at the facts contained in this report,” he said. “you see the power of the holistic approach.”
According to the report:
- Almost one-in-ten (88 per cent) used at least one drug chronically when starting at Triple Care Farm (TCF). Six months after leaving, almost half (45 per cent) were abstaining from drug use, while 52 per cent were abstaining from alcohol.
- Approx four-in-five (79 per cent) used cannabis at chronic levels when arriving at TCF. Six months after leaving, only 4 per cent reported chronic cannabis use.
- Of 160 former TCF clients surveyed, 91 per cent were unemployed when entering TCF. Six months after leaving, almost half (43 per cent) had some form of paid employment. More than one-third (36 per cent) were in training.
- 31 per cent of the 160 surveyed were homeless at time of TCF intake. Six months after leaving, only one person in this group reported being homeless.
At the launch Ms Goward said she had visited Triple Care Farm, which is in her electorate, several times:
“Going to a
Triple Care Farm graduation is like going to a revival meeting – you leave with a great sense of belief.
“Often with teenagers we think it’s just a stage they’re going through, but we can forget they are so vulnerable… Seventy per cent of Triple Care Farm students had experienced family breakdown.”
She added that the sense of trust Triple Care Farm instils should be replicated in all other services for young people.
Transformation in actionA current Triple Care Farm student told guests at the launch, including representatives from the
Macquarie Group Foundation,
Sir David Martin Foundation,
Friends in Giving and Key Foundation, how the program is transforming her life:
“Before I was admitted to Triple Care Farm, I was constantly putting myself into situations that were not safe for me – physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. I was so caught up in drug-taking and that lifestyle that there was no chance for me to take a breath and really think about what I was doing… I felt trapped and caught on a merry-go-round.
“I realised I needed help. I’ve been a Triple Care Farm since early June. I immediately felt comforted by the environment and the location. At my admission myself and my family were treated with respect, and no question was too silly to ask. I feel as though I can make the changes I need to make with no judgement or pressure. I’m starting to see there are other options for me and I’m excited to explore them at Triple Care Farm.”
Mission Australia’s CEO, Toby Hall, said the reason for such success is simple: it supports the young people in its care with both their drug/alcohol problems and their mental health issues at the same time.
“Despite this, most services continue to offer young people with drug and alcohol problems help with either their addiction or their mental health, not both. What we provide at Triple Care Farm – and what this new report shows is a far more effective approach – is combining both drug/alcohol rehab and mental health services. For young people, addiction and mental illness are very often related. They need to be managed together, not separately.
“The fragmentation that occurs between some services offering drug/alcohol rehab while others focus on mental illness increases the chances of young people not getting the help they need,” Mr Hall added.
“Meanwhile, Triple Care Farm can only take 100 enrolments each year and yet receives more than 6,000 inquiries from around Australia. That level of demand clearly indicates a national shortage… There aren’t enough services for this vulnerable group and what exists often isn’t effective.”
Triple Care Farm will feature on ABC TV’s 7.30 program tonight. If you are unable to view the program tonight, you could try ABC’s website at a more convenient time.
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