Contingency management (CM) is a psychological treatment based on operant conditioning. It consists of providing incentives in exchange for achieving a target behaviour such as abstinence or other treatmentrelated variables (e.g. session attendance, adherence to medication). The objective of this article was to introduce the rationale of CM for substance use and, more specifically, for smoking cessation. A growing body of empirical literature supports CM as an effective treatment for quitting smoking both in the general population and among other hard-to-treat smokers (e.g. pregnant women or...

Watch the video of the SHAAP/SARN 'Alcohol Occasionals' webinar, held over Zoom on 23 May 2022: "Navigating the complexity of harm and care: a qualitative study of self-harm and alcohol use" by Dr Amy Chandler and Annie Taylor from the University of Edinburgh.

Watch the video of the SHAAP/SARN 'Alcohol Occasionals' webinar, held over Zoom on 21 June 2022:

"‘I’m just getting the impression I have to sort myself out’: How people with co-occurring heavy alcohol use and depression describe the care they receive in a fragmented health system - a qualitative study" by Dr Kat Jackson & Dr Amy O’Donnell from Newcastle University.

Substance use and mental health needs are two of the primary concerns for many people experiencing multiple disadvantage. We know that people who experience both issues at the same time (also known as “co-occurring conditions” or “dual diagnosis”) find it difficult or impossible to access the right support for their needs.

However, despite these concerns, appropriate support for people with co- occurring conditions remains an unresolved challenge for many local areas. Without appropriate support, individuals’ health, wellbeing and trust in services can be drastically harmed. In this briefing...

Research has shown that alcohol use and common mental disorders co-occur; however, little is known about how the global prevalence of alcohol use compares across different mental disorders.

This review examined:

(i) report global associations of alcohol use (alcohol use disorder (AUD), binge drinking and consumption) comparing those with and without common mental disorders 

(ii) how this differed among those with and without specific types of common mental disorders 

(iii) how results may differ by study characteristics.

Results:

A total of 512 papers were reviewed. Individuals with a...

Abstract

Background and Aims

Research has shown that alcohol use and common mental disorders co-occur; however, little is known about how the global prevalence of alcohol use compares across different common mental disorders. The aim of this study was to (i) report global associations of alcohol use (alcohol use disorder, binge drinking and consumption) compare those with and without common mental disorders, (ii) examine how this differed among those with and without specific types of common mental disorders and (iii) examine how results may differ by study characteristics.

The systematic...

This document provides guidance for UNHCR staff and partners on protecting the rights of older persons in situations of forced displacement or statelessness.

When responding to the phases of forced displacement (flight, displacement, return, resettlement or integration), UNHCR staff and partners need to ensure that older persons’ rights to independence, participation, self-fulfilment, dignity, and care are met without discrimination. To do this, teams should develop a thorough understanding of both the needs and capacities of older persons in displaced populations.

Systematic application of...

Doing What Matters in Times of Stress is a WHO stress management guide for coping with adversity. This illustrated guide supports implementation of WHO’s recommendation for stress management.

There are many causes of stress, including personal difficulties (e.g. conflict with loved ones, being alone, lack of income, worries about the future), problems at work (e.g. conflict with colleagues, an extremely demanding or insecure job) or major threats in your community (e.g. violence, disease, lack of economic opportunity).

This guide is for anyone who experiences stress, ranging from parents and...

Drinking alcohol can increase someone's risk of dying by suicide. This is connected to both the impact of long-term alcohol use and the immediate effects of drinking.

Samaritans and Suicide Prevention Consortium have conducted research exploring what the relationship between alcohol and suicide looks like for people living in England, in their own words.

Key findings:

• There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’. The best support people received acknowledged their personal circumstances and made them feel trusted and listened to. Unfortunately, many people did not receive this level of care.
• For many...