The intersection of substance use, mental health, and trauma

Substance use and mental health concerns can precede or result from trauma experiences. Individuals may use substances as a coping mechanism for physical and emotional pain related to violence in their relationship. Trauma, especially when unaddressed, can significantly impact mental health, leading to conditions such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Recognizing these overlapping issues is essential for providing effective, compassionate, and trauma-informed support services that address not just the individual components, but the broader context of a person’s lived experience. 

Core Training Series

The Substance Use/Mental Health Program Director offers four (4) core trainings:

• The Intersection of Substance Use and Trauma
• The Intersection of Mental Health and Trauma
• Harm Reduction
• Motivational Interviewing

The following topic is also available on request:

• Overdose Related Brain Injury

The training courses are two hours in length and can be held in-person or virtually. Whenever possible, in-person trainings are preferred.  Training costs for non-ODVN member programs and agencies will be discussed upon scheduling.

The training courses listed above are available upon request and by contacting the Substance Use/Mental Health Program Director, Cheryl Stahl at cheryls@odvn.org.

Substance Use and Mental Health Resources

The following resources and materials are available to anyone and can be viewed and downloaded by clicking on the link. They may also be requested by mail. 

Safer Use Plan—The Safer Use Plan is meant for survivors who are actively using substances, so they can plan for safer drug use and engage in Harm Reduction strategies to reduce the chance of overdose, prevent substance use related illnesses, and identify their risk factors.	Click to View
Recovery Safety Plan—The Recovery Safety Plan is meant for survivors who are in recovery from substance dependence and may be struggling with maintaining their recovery while involved in DV programs. This plan helps survivors identify risks to their recovery, how to advocate for their recovery in difficult environments, and identify recovery resources in their communities.	Click to View
Recovery Readiness Questionnaire—The Recovery Readiness Questionnaire is meant for advocates to use to engage survivors in discussion about their readiness to explore sobriety. The questionnaire consists of Motivational Interviewing style questions designed to encourage open conversations about substance use and allows advocates to base referrals on survivors reported readiness to make changes.	Click to View
Advocate Tip Sheet: Mental Health—This tip sheet provides advocates with tips on how to identify potential mental health stressors, de-escalate mental health crises, and identify signs of suicidal ideation and associated intervention strategies.	Click to View
Harm Reduction and Mental Health Posters—These posters are meant to be hung in DV program spaces and encourage survivors to talk about their substance use, seek help with Harm Reduction planning, and encourage survivors to talk to staff about their mental health experiences.	Mental Health Posters 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 Harm Reduction Posters 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9
Group Accommodations for People with Cognitive Impairment—This is a one-page document that provides anyone who facilitates groups with accommodation strategies to make groups more accessible for people who may have cognitive impairments resulting from brain injury.	Click to View
Project DAWN—ODVN is a Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided With Naloxone) site and can provide training on the proper use of Naloxone (Narcan) as well as providing Narcan kits and fentanyl test strips to DV programs upon request.

Technical Assistance

The Substance Use/Mental Health Program Director offers on-site, virtual, email, and telephone consultations to domestic violence service providers and allied professionals working with survivors with substance use and/or mental health experiences. Programs needing support and assistance in program development, policy & procedure development or revision, staff training and development, best practice standards of service, and trauma-informed & client-centered services around substance use and mental health can contact ODVN for assistance and guidance 

To request training, resources, or technical assistance, contact Cheryl Stahl at cheryls@odvn.org.