HOW CAN I USE MY EXPERIENCE WITH PROBLEM DRINKING TO HELP OTHERS?

You can complete a series of online surveys and give your opinion on topics such as ‘how to talk to someone about their problem drinking’, ‘what to do if someone won’t seek professional help’ or ‘how to manage someone when they are drunk’.

WHAT IS PROBLEM DRINKING?

Problem drinking refers to drinking alcohol in a harmful way.

AM I ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE?

You are eligible if you fulfil the following criteria:

You have personally had a problem with drinking but are currently functioning well and are in an advocacy role. (We will refer to past users as ‘Consumers’).

You have cared for someone with a drinking problem and are now in an advocacy role. (‘Carers’ are often family members, friends or other loved ones).

You are over 18 years and from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States.

WHAT IS AN ADVOCACY ROLE?

By advocacy role we mean “having represented the interests of problem drinkers or their carers within the community, so that you have an understanding of problem drinking beyond your own personal experience”. For example, you may have:

Spoken publicly about your experience as a consumer or carer,
Facilitated self-help groups for other consumers or carers, or
Participated on alcohol service user boards or committees.

This project is being conducted by the Mental Health First Aid team at Melbourne University. You can check us out at www.mhfa.com.au. We will be using your survey responses to put together ‘First Aid Guidelines for Problem Drinking’. This is more fully explained in the PDF below.

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If you would like to participate in these online surveys, please email Anna Kingston at annahk@unimelb.edu.au explaining how your experience fits the eligibility criteria.