Mj stress summit

1. Alcohol use as a
coping mechanism for stress
North East England Health Summit:
Inequalities-related Stress
28th
June 2016
Mr Mark Joyce (Service Manager)
Changing Lives

3. Overview
• Changing Lives and The Fells
• Homelessness, Stress & Alcohol
• The Care and Control Dilemma
• Peer Research and Service Improvements

4. The Fells

11. Care V’s Control
• How can we effectively manage the care and
control dilemma?

12. What would an alternative look like?

13. • “Alcohol is the same as drugs; some people
use it as a coping mechanism – it’s like a
crutch.” Participant 4 (late 40s)

14. • “Started drinking before legal age. I used to
buy bottles. I feel restless and rock backwards
and forwards sometimes. It’s like you want to
do something but you can’t. The rule [not to
drink alcohol on site] is a safety mechanism
for staff and I wouldn’t like living here if it was
like that [wet site which allowed drinking on
premises]. Northerners are beer monsters!”.
Participant 2 (early 60s):

15. • I don’t want to stop drinking. I agree that is
should be a dry site but I have still contravened
the agreement (tenancy) and been caught. Just
got a swerver [informal warning] and empty
bottle took off. It depends on staff. Some staff
wouldn’t give you a swerver. You’d get swung,
hung and quartered by [some staff ] but if [other
staff] caught us you’d get a swerver. But after a
few times they would have to enforce it”.
Participant 3 (early 30s):

16. General group discussion
• If didn’t have any money worries (e.g. by not being
unemployment) would drink more alcohol but costly
• Residents buy alcohol at the local shop because
cheaper and drink in ‘Baz’s shed’ but it gets cold
outside and being told ‘no’ you can’t drink on site
makes you want to
• If no rules then people would drink all the time and
they would be rolling around being abusive so a good
thing to have a dry site
• The social element motivates people to drink
• Residents drink in cliques

17. Challenges
• Trust and buy in
• Getting residents to open up, be honest
• Managing resident expectations
• Delivering Trauma Informed services

18. Alcohol use as a
coping mechanism for stress
North East England Health Summit:
Inequalities-related Stress
28th
June 2016
Mr Mark Joyce (Service Manager)
Changing Lives