Strengthening support
March 31, 2026
Tasmanians experiencing mental ill-health alongside alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues must have access to integrated treatment models that can support them to recover, says new research from Anglicare.
The Strengthening support report draws on the observations of frontline staff working across Anglicare Tasmania’s AOD and mental health services. It builds on the Mind the gap report published by Anglicare last year, which highlighted how the state’s mental health system, particularly in the North, is fragmented, under-resourced and failing people who have multiple and complex needs.
Australian research indicates that between 50% and 76% of people entering AOD treatment have a co-occurring mental illness, and 53% of people in mental health treatment programs have used AOD in the past 12 months. A sample of data from Anglicare’s statewide Drug and Alcohol Treatment Service (ADATS) shows a high level of co-occurring mental health issues, at 65.85% of clients.
Ginny Toombs from Anglicare’s Social Action and Research Centre (SARC) says that people with co-occurring mental health and AOD issues are being let down by siloed services that are not always designed to take complex life factors, such as housing insecurity and trauma, into account.
“Often a person is required to address one issue before receiving support for the other, which makes it very difficult for their holistic needs to be addressed and risks them falling through the cracks,” she said. “Gap fees and limited bulk-billing options, long waitlists and stigma from health providers and the community add further barriers to accessing care”.
Strengthening support includes several client stories that have been de-identified to protect individuals’ privacy. Douglas’s story is one of them.
In a regional town, Douglas is facing his twelfth withdrawal in just 18 months. He has mental health issues, an acquired brain injury and intellectual disability, which make it more challenging to avoid being influenced by other people. His history of trauma impacts him greatly, and he often returns to drinking with the same group of people. Each time he calls for support to access withdrawal, but the cycle feels difficult to break. A referral was made for him to a psychology clinic, yet long waitlists and out-of-pocket costs create barriers. Telehealth is offered from the mainland, but in places like this regional town, mobile coverage is patchy at best. Every step towards Douglas’s recovery is met with obstacles, including geography, systems and circumstances.
The report calls on the Tasmanian Government to urgently expand access to managed withdrawal treatment, particularly for people in the North and North West. It also recommends it fast-track the delivery of the planned Mental Health Precincts at the Launceston General Hospital and the North West Regional Hospital.
“Evidence and national guidelines all point to integrated treatment models, where multi-disciplinary teams are co-located and the emphasis is on providing person-centred support,” Ginny said. “This would provide opportunities for early and meaningful interventions that can and help people on their recovery”.
The report also calls on the Tasmanian Government to fund additional investment in transitional and long-term supported accommodation to meet the needs of people living with mental health conditions, and to work with the Australian Government to scale up investment in long-term social housing.
Further reading and information
Find out more about Anglicare’s:
