The strong relationship between mental health and alcohol and other drugs has implications for how we prevent and address the burden these disorders place on individuals and on our community.

We can best do this by:

• strengthening common protective factors to reduce the frequency of problems occurring with mental health or AOD use, working to prevent one to - in turn - prevent the other

• providing appropriate treatment for people with dual diagnosis, including steps to ensure accurate diagnoses

• improving capacity for services to deliver effective treatment for mental health and substance use problems, preventing individuals falling between the gaps22

• reducing stigma to ensure people are seeking help when they need it and receiving appropriate and quality care