The perceptions of social workers regarding service users with co-occurrence of opioid use and mental health disorders at the Community Oriented Substance Use Programme (COSUP)

Abstract

Co-occurring mental health disorders are a major public health concern globally. In South Africa, approximately 15% of individuals using substances have one or more mental health disorders, and this has overburdened the public health system. Service users with co-occurring mental health disorders require a combination of pharmacological and behavioural treatments to mitigate the symptoms and promote recovery. Social workers are among the professionals who treat mental health disorders, despite the practice impediments in the mental health field. The biopsychosocial model, in conjunction with the harm reduction model, guided this research by providing a holistic perspective of co-occurring opioid use and mental health disorders. This was a qualitative study, falling within the scope of applied research as it sought to comprehend the social workers’ perceptions and offer solutions to identified challenges in practice. The study was exploratory and descriptive since it aimed to explore and describe the perceptions of social workers regarding service users with co-occurrence of opioid use and mental health disorders. It employed an instrumental case study design to establish the perceptions and experiences of social workers in working with service users with co-occurrence of opioid use and mental health disorders. The researcher used the non-probability purposive sampling method to sample social workers working at COSUP to participate in the study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews guided by an interview schedule, which was analysed through thematic analysis. The research findings revealed that social work services are essential in the mental health care field. Thus, social workers strive to improve and maintain the mental well-being of individuals with mental health disorders. The study has shown that even though social work services are essential, social workers seem not to have a broader outlook regarding co-occurring mental health disorders. The study discovered that lack of educational training; resources, support, and supervision are some of the challenges experienced by social workers, impacting service delivery. To address social workers’ challenges and improve services, the study recommended continuous mental health training, prioritisation of community awareness programmes, and ensuring access and availability of resources. The study radically vouches for the implementation of harm reduction programmes across the nation to deal effectively with substance use and mental health disorders. Keywords: Community-Oriented Substance Use Programme (COSUP), co-occurring disorders, mental health disorders, opioids, perceptions, service users, and social workers.