Eastern Dual Diagnosis Service (EDDS)

The Eastern Dual Diagnosis Service is one of four specialist dual diagnosis teams funded by the Department of Health as an initiative which aims to support the improvement of responses of mental health and drug treatment services to individuals with both mental illness and substance use problems (dual diagnosis).

Eastern Health’s Dual Diagnosis Service’s multidisciplinary team has a comprehensive knowledge of both mental health and alcohol and other drug treatment and support and are embedded into our mental health and wellbeing services.  The Dual Diagnosis Service provides: 

• Assessment and treatment advice to better support people accessing services within our program and their families/carers living with mental ill health and alcohol or drug concerns.
• Shared Care where a Dual Diagnosis clinician works side by side with consumers and their treating team to deliver integrated mental health and substance use care.  Shared care is about the team you bring together to support a dual diagnosis recovery.   
• Education and training on mental health and substance use concerns and support services in the development of resources to address these concerns.
• Education and training to our mental health services as well as engaging in external partnerships to promote and develop the understanding/response to dual diagnosis across our community.

In addition to the work supporting integrated care within the Eastern Health Mental Health and Wellbeing Program, EDDS also works collaboratively with mental health and alcohol and other drug services across the eastern metropolitan region in:

• Developing the capability of hospital and community-based alcohol and drug, and mental health treatment and support services to improve health outcomes of individuals with a dual diagnosis and following a philosophy of ‘no wrong door’ to service access and principles relating to integrated treatment
• Ensuring that the inter-service arrangements between mental health and alcohol and drug services (including the north eastern Hume rural component) that are developed reflect the initiatives purpose in addressing the gaps and needs in dual diagnosis

To achieve this EDDS provides:

• Secondary and tertiary consultations and limited primary consultations for staff in Clinical Mental Health (CMH), Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation and Support Services (PDRSS), and Alcohol and Other Drug Services (AOD), who provide support and treatment to individuals with a dual diagnosis across adult, youth, and aged services.
• Education, training and service development focusing on dual diagnosis-specific issues, to improve capability of staff working across the age range in providing integrated assessment, treatment, and recovery.