Building Bridges
Co-Occurring Mental Illness and Addiction: Consumers and Service
Providers, Policymakers, and Researchers in Dialogue

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services recently released a report on
co-occurring mental illness and addiction that summarizes a two-day
dialogue meeting between mental health and addiction consumers and
providers, policymakers, and researchers with expertise on co-occurring
issues.

The Building Bridges report highlights recommendations that promote
recovery and specifically emphasize better mutual understanding and
partnerships, a holistic approach to care and services, workforce
development and peer supports, programs to reduce stigma and
discrimination, systems change, and reimbursement redesign.

Dialogue findings include factors on the personal level and the systems
level that promote or hinder recovery of persons with co-occurring
mental illnesses and addiction and impact those who create, deliver, and
study these systems of care and services. The publication also includes
references and resources for helpful information.

A copy may be obtained from the National Mental Health Information
Center at (800) 789-2647. The publication is also available at:
http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SMA04-3892/