Alcohol / Alcoholism & Mental Health

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Mental health is our ability to enjoy life and cope with its many and varied challenges. In a nutshell, are we able to get on and do the things we want to do? A mental illness is a problem that affects mental health in the same way that a physical injury affects physical health.

Alcohol is linked with mental health issues, problems and disorders in a number of ways. Research has found that people who consume higher amounts of alcohol often have more problems with their mental health. People with a diagnosed psychiatric disorder are more likely to be dependent on alcohol than people without a mental illness and those individuals suffering from schizophrenia or related disoders are at least three times more likely to have alcohol related problems.

Many people with mental health problems may drink excessively as a way of hiding their symptoms making it difficult to identify which comes first – the drinking problem or the mental health problem. What is very clear is that alcohol is likely to make the situation much worse.

Alcoholism or alcohol dependence is a chronic disease that is characterised by the consumption of alcohol at a level that interferes with physical and mental health and with family, work and social responsibilities. An alcoholic will often continue to drink despite serious health, family or legal problems that only exacerabates their personal or family problems.

Alcohol related mental health problems are common in both sexes at at all age ranges and in all cultures. Alcoholism treatment programs use counselling and sometimes medication to help a person stop drinking. Most alcoholics need help to recover from their disease but with the right amount of support and treatment, many people are able to stop drinking and rebuild their lives. Medications used to treat alcoholism include Benzodiazepines; Valium and Librium are sometimes used during the first days after a person stops drinking to help them safely withdraw from alcohol however prolonged use is not recommended because they may be highly addictive.

Click here for resources for Mental Health Professionals

If you are concerned about yourself, a friend or family member with regard excessive alcohol use and mental health related problems seek help and assistance from a trained mental health specialist or service provider in your state or territory.