Page 31 - MELD Stimulant service

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MELD recognises that, two years of COVID restrictions, have exacerbated
mental health issues and had a detrimental effect on wellbeing. Some
participants reported limited positive opportunities and interactions out with
treatment sessions and indicated that they valued the safe and quiet space
each week away from their normal daily routine. In addition, motivation was
high to attend on a regular basis due to the physical/emotional benefits they
felt from each session and well-being effects that continued for days after each
session. Although individuals had varying backgrounds they felt that it had been
highly beneficial to learn positive tools/techniques to support their recovery.
Furthermore, they felt that they were better able to manage situations that had
previously caused high anxiety and enabled them to feel more confidence to
practice positive coping strategies.
MELD would like to see holistic interventions be made more readily available
to individuals accessing MELD support and for these interventions to enhance
the services that we already offer. For example, embedding a holistic service
within our core work would allow other referral routes for clients that support
emotional health and deal with anxiety and stress symptoms.

Continuation of this service would enable more treatment choices and support
referral pathways increasing service choice. The stimulant service project has
evidenced that individuals have prioritised and valued these sessions which
have had a great impact on reducing stress, drug use and increasing well-being
leading to hope that change is possible and can be maintained. We believe
that this report has evidenced that improvements in well-being can be achieved
by using a holistic approach alongside traditional main services to support
recovery.