1. Substance Use and rural communities What could we learn?
May 18, 2017
Lisa Murphy
Director of Operations
Central/North Island
Mental Health & Substance Use

2. Some Data: 35-65 years is highest age co-hort
35 % of ED visits are for Mental Health & Substance Use
30 % of GP visits are for Mental Health & Substance Use
People in rural/remote areas seek service at much lower rates
35-65 years is highest age co-hort

3. Data cont’d Depressive disorder (50%)
Anxiety disorder is the second largest category (30%)
Trauma is the third largest MHSU category (At least 17 %)

4. Intervention Approaches Across Specific Population Groups

5. Substance Dependence
Substance Dependence: A pattern of substance use leading to impairment or distress, as manifested by:
Physical Dependence (e.g. increasing tolerance of drug; withdrawal symptoms)
Psychological addiction (compulsive use and loss of control over substance use

6. Tiered Framework for MHSU Planning

7. Privacy What are the needs of people in small communities?
What would clients and families identify as concerns/risks?

8. Stigma
“Unconscious bias” (Mental shortcuts and leaps that lead to decisions and next steps)
What are common themes for substance use?
Common themes for rural and remote?

9. Opiate Crisis Response in Rural Communities
Where, what, when and where?
Rate can match urban communities but…

10. Other issues: Recruitment, retention Telehealth
Risk of seeing rural a co-hort
Diversity, inclusion and changing communities