Sponsored Content by Alcohol & Drug Foundation
While the end-of-year holiday period is usually thought of as a time for celebration, many Australians find this period tough. Events and parties create hurdles for some, while for others the sense of loneliness and depression can be increased.
It’s a time of the year when people can be challenged by alcohol and other drug (AOD) use – especially the family and friends of someone who uses AOD.
That’s why the Alcohol and Drug Foundation is running a campaign to promote Path2Help – an online tool for family and friends of people who are challenged AOD.
If you’re worried about a loved one who is struggling with AOD but don’t know where to start, help them get support early with Path2Help.
It can help you to navigate your way through the maze of support services, finding the ones that are right for you. The clever online portal steps you through a simple set of questions to provide tailored support referrals based on your specific need and circumstances.
Just plug in your personal answers to 11 questions and the portal will automatically sift through more than 10,000 specialist services to provide you with your best matches in up to five minutes.
The online portal is constantly updated with new services – check it out at the Alcohol and Drug Foundation website.
Most people don’t know where to look for help
Path2Help was engineered on the back of research that found that most family and friends (71%) find it difficult to access alcohol and other drug information and support services because they don’t know where to look or what questions to ask.
Stigma was also identified as another hurdle for people looking for support and services to help a loved one with alcohol and other drug challenges. This means that some people avoid speaking to healthcare professionals or their GP because they are worried about being judged or treated differently.
Path2Help is online, quick, free and confidential. It asks the right questions and steers you towards a range of local services that best match what you may need – you don’t need to know what you are looking for, the portal’s built-in algorithm does it all for you.
And it is obviously meeting a community need. Since its launch late last year, thanks to funding from the Australian Government, Path2Help has already been accessed nearly 90,000 times by Australians.
A great tool for healthcare providers and GPs
A GP is often the first person people turn to when they’re concerned about a family or friend’s alcohol and other drug use. If you work as a healthcare provider or GP, you know that empowering patients to take control of their alcohol or other drug use is rewarding but can sometimes be challenging.
Now, you can refer them to Path2Help. The confidential online portal will enable them to find tailored support services, as well as the facts about alcohol and different drugs, and advice on how to broach the subject with their loved one.
The intuitive online portal can be accessed by your patients when they’re ready to assess their personal risk level and find nearby information and support services.
Based on the proven ASSIST model, the simple tool makes a high, medium or low risk assessment, and then provides tailored recommendations of suitable support services based on each individual’s personal experiences.
Path2Help receives innovation award
In 2022 The Alcohol and Drug Foundation was announced as one of Australia and New Zealand’s Most Innovative Companies in the annual AFR BOSS rankings, due to Path2Help’s innovative approach to providing a solution to a widespread social issue.
The Foundation in 2022 also ranked 7th on the list of the Most Innovative Companies in the Government, Education and Not-for-Profit category, from over 700 nominated organisations.
The Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s CEO, Dr Erin Lalor AM, commented that the organisation is proud that it helps people find the right support and empower positive action.
“We created Path2Help because we were concerned that many Australians who were worried about a loved one’s alcohol or other drug use didn’t know where to turn to when they needed help and support,” Dr Lalor explained.
“This accolade reinforces the Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s passion and commitment to doing things differently; pushing the boundaries; testing, trialing and refining new solutions,” Dr Lalor added.
Visit Path2Help to get support today.
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