Providers with experience supporting Dual Diagnosis
About Dual Diagnosis
Dual diagnosis means a person has both a mental health condition and a substance use issue at the same time. It is a common and well-recognised combination, because each can contribute to or worsen the other. Historically, mental health services and alcohol and drug services sometimes operated separately. That made it harder for people with dual diagnosis to get coordinated care. Integrated treatment that addresses both together is now considered better practice. Support needs are individual and depend on the specific mental health condition and substance involved. They generally benefit from services, or a support coordinator, able to work across both areas rather than treating them in isolation. This is a complex area. A GP, psychiatrist or dedicated dual diagnosis service is the best starting point, with broader disability support added once appropriate clinical care is in place.
This is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Every person’s needs are different — a provider’s general experience with dual diagnosis is a starting point for a conversation, not a guarantee of fit. If you or someone you know is in crisis, Lifeline (13 11 14) is available 24/7 in Australia.
No SolDirectory members have listed experience supporting dual diagnosis yet. The supports below are what people commonly look for.
Support commonly linked to Dual Diagnosis
These are supports people with dual diagnosis commonly look for — not a personal recommendation, just a starting point for browsing.
Planning and checking support
Good planning is recovery-oriented and trauma-aware, respects privacy and choice, and coordinates functional support with clinical mental health care when consent is given.
Questions to ask before choosing support
- Ask what direct experience the provider and allocated worker have supporting people with dual diagnosis.
- Confirm qualifications, screening, supervision, insurance and any person-specific training required for the support.
- Discuss communication, culture, routines, goals, risks and how the support will be reviewed when needs change.
- Confirm rates, travel, cancellations, reports, funding and the written service agreement before support starts.
Frequently asked questions
What support do people with dual diagnosis commonly look for?
Support commonly linked to Dual Diagnosis includes support coordination and life skills. Use these as a starting point for browsing providers, not as a personal recommendation.
Does SolDirectory verify a provider’s experience with dual diagnosis?
No. Providers write their own profiles, including which conditions they have experience supporting. Confirm the details that matter to you directly with the provider.
Is this page medical advice?
No. It is general information to help with browsing providers. For diagnosis, treatment or a specific person’s needs, speak with a GP or the relevant specialist.
Does a diagnosis of dual diagnosis automatically qualify someone for funding?
No. Funding bodies apply their own current eligibility rules and usually consider functional impact, the support requested and available evidence. Confirm requirements with the responsible program.
Official sources and further support
Other conditions in Psychosocial & Mental Health
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar Disorder
- PTSD
- Anxiety Disorders
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Borderline Personality Disorder
Helpful reading
- Choosing a therapist: occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech pathology: Three common therapies with different focuses. Here is how to work out where to start and what to ask before booking.
- NDIS jargon explained: the terms you will hear and what they mean: Plans, supports, coordinators, managers, registered providers: a plain-language glossary of the words that come up most often.
- NDIS or My Aged Care: which system supports you?: Two government systems support people with disability and older people. Here is how to think about which one applies and what to do if you are not sure.