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Healthy Recovery

Program lead

Associate Professor Peter Kelly and Dr Laura Robinson 

It is common for people accessing treatment for mental health or substance dependence to report high rates of smoking. Likewise, it is also common for people accessing these services to report physical inactivity, poor dietary habits, and high intake of alcohol and other substances of dependence. The combination of these multiple behavioural risk factors makes people much more susceptible to developing a range of lifestyle diseases, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Our group have been conducting a series of studies that have been focused on understanding these health behaviours and trialling interventions to help improve these behaviours across both mental health and substance dependence treatment settings. 

Projects

Lead researchers

University of Wollongong

University of Newcastle 

  • Amanda Baker
  • Clare Collins
  • Robin Callister

Partners

The Salvation Army

Project description

Healthy Recovery is a healthy lifestyles group program that was developed and trialled for people who are attending residential AOD treatment. The program is delivered over 8-sessions and utilises education, motivational interviewing, goal setting and contingency management. It is primarily focused on helping people to reduce the smoking, but also includes a focus on increasing physical activity and improving diet. Following the completion of a pilot trial, our group completed a stepped wedge randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention across The Salvation Army treatment services. The results demonstrated that people completing Healthy Recovery were more likely to commence nicotine replacement therapy and reduce their smoking. We are very keen for services and workers to use Healthy Recovery as part of routine care. All of the program materials, manuals, handouts, and videos are free to use and can be downloaded from the study website.  

Indicative outcomes

Funding 

  • Cancer Institute NSW
  • Cancer Council NSW
  • The Salvation Army

Lead researchers

University of Wollongong

External

  • Amanda Baker (University of Newcastle)
  • Alyna Turner (Deakin)
  • Clare Collins (University of Newcastle)
  • Robin Callister (University of Newcastle)

Project description

Better Health Choices is a healthy lifestyle telephone intervention that was designed to be used within mental health treatment settings. We have conducted a number of successful pilot studies of Better Health Choices. The first was delivered by Clinical Psychologists with people who were recruited from the Schizophrenia Research Registry. The second pilot focused on examining the feasibility of peer workers delivering the program for people living with mental illness who were attending Neami National services. All of the program materials are free to use and download.

Indicative outcomes

Funding

  • Schizophrenia Fellowship NSW