ABSTRACT
Since 1998, the mental health and drug treatment arms of the Eastern Hume healthcare system have allocated resources to developing systemic mental health–substance use capability. This chapter outlines the context of this development process, provides an Eastern Hume 'progress report' and describes strategies found successful in the pursuit of systemic mental health–substance use capability. The Eastern Hume region lies in the northeast of Victoria, Australia; it covers 23,000 square km and has a population of 120,000. The region is substantially rural with two main urban centres, Wangaratta and Wodonga, and a number of smaller towns. Over the decade, Eastern Hume has experienced significant challenges due to climate change and fires. Victorian specialist mental health services are principally provided by two sectors: Clinical mental health and Psychiatric disability rehabilitation support. Clinical mental health services (older adult, adult, child and adolescent), focus on acute treatment. Psychiatric disability rehabilitation support services provide psychosocial support to people with severe mental health disorders.
