Two GMMH Consultant Psychiatrists shape national mental health and addictions report
Two Consultant Psychiatrists at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) have played a pivotal role in shaping a new report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists , which highlights important recommendations for the care and treatment of people with co-occurring substance use and mental health problems.
The report, published in May 2025, highlights the need for substance use and mental health services to work more collaboratively in order to effectively care for and treat some of the most vulnerable in our society – something that is already being implemented through an innovative service model in Greater Manchester.
The national picture
Despite the high prevalence of co-occurring substance misuse and mental health problems, patients are often excluded from both substance use and mental health services.
This is because these services typically work in silos, which can mean they lack the trained staff and resources necessary to appropriately address both conditions simultaneously.
The new report from the Royal College of Psychiatry calls upon the UK and Devolved Governments to facilitate a more coordinated approach. It recommends that substance use and mental health services nation-wide are provided with the training, staff and funding they need to implement it.
The report also calls upon all health and local authority commissioners to ensure the number of people with dual diagnoses, and their outcomes, are routinely monitored. This will help improve understanding the scale of the issue while supporting better resource allocation and strategic planning.
Innovation in Greater Manchester
Dr Anna Fryer, Lead Consultant at GMMH’s Moorside Unit, and Dr Stephen Kaar, Consultant Addictions Psychiatrist at GMMH’s Addiction Services, sat on the working group for the report, offering specialist expertise and experience of best practice service delivery in Greater Manchester to inform the national recommendations.
Dr Stephen Kaar said:
“Co-occurring substance use and mental health problems are very common, and often intertwined. For instance, someone may use alcohol or drugs to self-medicate for the distressing symptoms of anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress.
“While this may offer short-term relief, it exacerbates the issues over time. This can have a devastating impact, affecting all areas of people’s lives, including housing, employment and overall health and wellbeing.
“In Greater Manchester, we have been doing a lot of work to join up services, break down barriers and prevent gaps in care.”
Dr Stephen Kaar
Case study: The Manchester Dual Diagnosis Liaison Service (MDDLS)
The Manchester Dual Diagnosis Liaison Service (MDDLS), also run by GMMH, provides support to Manchester residents with co-occurring mental health and substance use problems. The service offers advice and consultation to front line staff, and brings different services together, to help them determine the best care and treatment plans for individuals.
Between April 2024 to March 2025, the MDDLS supported 365 cases, across inpatient and community services, and with third sector partners.
The MDDLS also provides training for health and social care staff to help them better understand the link between mental health and substance use and how they can best support those who experience it. Training topics include: ‘Introduction to Dual Diagnosis/Co-occurring Conditions’, ‘Motivational Interviewing’, and ‘Psychologically Informed Environments (Trauma Informed Care approach)’.
The MDDLS delivered training to a total of 1,300 staff who work within mental health services, addiction services and homeless services in Manchester.
Key achievements from the past 12 months:
- Assist Lite Screening Tool: Launched a project at GMMH’s North View mental health inpatient unit to screen all new patients for alcohol, tobacco, and substance use, enabling early identification of needs and appropriate care.
- Take Home Naloxone Initiative: Co-led a Steering Group to provide Take Home Naloxone to patients at risk of opiate overdoses post-inpatient stay. Trained 150 staff members at North View, with plans to expand this model across all GMMH inpatient services.
- NHS Collaboration: Partnered with Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust to establish a national platform for sharing best practices in co-occurring mental health, alcohol, and drug issues (COMHAD).
- Addiction Provider Alliance (APA) Collaboration: Continued strong representation in the APA’s Co-occurring Conditions working group, informing the production of a national training guide and contributing to the vital Stigma Kills Campaign.
Case study: Achieve Recovery Services
Community addictions services in Bury, Bolton, Trafford and Salford, are provided by Achieve Recovery Services, which are run by GMMH.
By integrating addictions and substance use services within the mental health trust in this way, and collaborating with a network of community health and social care partners, the service offers a comprehensive and holistic support service for the individual as a whole.
In 2022, an external evaluation found that Achieve Recovery Services’ approach to partnership-working is ‘effective’; with particular praise given to:
- Comprehensive support: wrap-around support for various health and social needs which impact on overall recovery.
- Adaptability and resilience: the service was able to adapt to continue to remain operational throughout the pandemic.
- Leadership and collaboration: Excellent leadership and culture modelled by GMMH, with all partners benefitting from access to NHS training, resources and platforms.
- Positive service user experience: Service users have been very positive about the services provided to them.
- Efficient use of public fund: GMMH’s role as the lead has positively impacted relationships with partners and commissioners, leading to efficiencies in public fund usage.
- Potential for replication: The service model has the potential to be replicated in other geographical areas, demonstrating its scalability and effectiveness.
Together, GMMH’s Addiction Services are rated ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC.
Dr Anna Fryer said
“There are pockets of excellence in areas across the UK, and we are very proud to be leading the way in Greater Manchester. But it is crucial that, across the board, commissioners, services and healthcare professionals adopt such ways of working to ensure better outcomes for individuals. We are very happy to have been able to share best practice recommendations to inform this vital report from the RCPsych.”
More information
You can read the RCPsych report at: co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders (CoSUM).
To find out more about Achieve Recovery Services visit: https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/achieve.
To find out more about the Manchester Dual Diagnosis Liaison Service, visit: https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/dual-diagnosis.
