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The South Eastern Times : August 14th 2014
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NEWS 3 NEW START: South East resident Suzan Marsden has landed a job with a world renowned chef in Adelaide after overcoming drug and alcohol addiction. Picture: RAQUEL MUSTILLO Recovery leads to success South East resident calls for regional substance abuse program MUSTILLO RAQUEL journo1@setimes.com.au Y a year ago, Suzan Marsden was heading down a path of self destruction, but after getting her life on track, she is this week starting a career with an internationally renowned celebrity chef. Landing a job at one of Australia’s most luxurious hotel chains in Adelaide was unimaginable to the third year apprentice chef, whose life was consumed by harmful drug and alcohol use. “I was suicidal and I needed help so I went straight to the hospital,” she said, explaining how she searched for help for the mental issues caused by her substance abuse. “But when I arrived, I was told I would need to be assessed before I was admitted. “Since doctors and nurses are WIN YOU COULD $ INSTANTLY‡ OVER $3 MILLION WORTH OF PRIZES PARTICIPATING PRODUCTS TO ENTER PLUS $10,000 UP FOR GRABS EVERY WEEK MORE SPECIALS IN-STORE TODAY & EVERYDAY ANY 2 OF THESE BUY 48 EACH SAVE UP $ 11 30 cans Purchase ONE bottle of Stoneleigh Marlborough Hahn Super Dry Bottles 24x330ml OR Victoria Bitter Block 30x375ml Cans Sauvignon Blanc 750ml PLUS TWO bottles of South Island Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 750ml for $26 TO $ PRICE 26^ 1/2 3 $ 2797 SAVE $ not qualifi ed to make an accurate assessment and it seems there are not enough employed at the hospital, I had to wait for the mental health worker to arrive. “When you are surrounded in solitude for hours and there is nothing in your head except voices, it is not healthy to be alone.” The severity of Suzan’s drug use was unrecognised to the then 22-year-old and it was only until family members intervened that she identifi ed it as a problem. “Mum and my former boss were the two people who pushed me to get help and without that support I don’t think I would have asked,” she said. “I made call after call to detoxi- fi cation and rehabilitation clinics everywhere trying to get admitted and it ended up taking three months to get into a detox program in Adelaide. “It is really easy to lose your motivation to get help when you are trying to fi nd it.” Suzan underwent a seven day detoxification program at the Glenside Campus followed by a short stint at an Adelaide-based youth specifi c rehabilitation clinic. “Glenside was seven days of clarity and in my head I was able to feel what it was like to be normal again,” she said. “The rehabilitation clinic I went into had a free needle exchange program for people who were injecting drugs and I couldn’t deal with it, so I had to get out.” Determined to overcome the co-morbidity of substance and mental health issues, Suzan began seeking therapeutic help on her return to the region. “I attempted telephone coun- selling but for me, I need that personal contact to be able to open up completely,” she said. “When you call someone you can’t see them, they have no idea of your background and the underlying issues and you are not building any sort of relationship, which is a really important part of recovery. “Eventually I ended up getting a referral to a counsellor from my doctor as part of the mental health plan.” GP mental health treatment plans are prepared by doctors and include setting and achieving goals and monitoring the progress of patients’ mental health problems over time. The plans allow patients to access 10 individual and 10 group allied mental health treatments per calendar year, including with psychiatrists, psychologists and counsellors. “My counsellor was David from the Green Triangle Wellness Centre and he would say to call him during a crisis and even though he has his own life he would still fi nd time to talk to me and made me feel like I was important,” she said. “I could call him in the middle of the night and we would talk through my issues and if I ever felt down I would go to the clinic and just be around people so I didn’t feel so alone. “The fact the he puts in the effort on his own time and addresses all of the issues around mental health and drug and alcohol abuse is the big difference between public and private services.” Suzan praised Mr Gittens’ mental health management, suggesting the State Government instate an accessible crisis facility in the Limestone Coast focused on mental health and substance abuse. “That is the kind of service we need in the region, there needs to be a service that is available 24/7 instead of spending fi ve months on a public waiting list,” she said. “It shouldn’t be up to private clinics to do what the state government is supposed to.” Suzan left the Limestone Coast this week to start her new career in Adelaide. 45 FOR 2 SAVE UP $ 21 TO Baileys Original Irish Cream or Cofee Cream 700ml TODAY’S SPECIAL facebook.com/bws | bws.com.au | Call 1300 138 297* We support the responsible service of alcohol. Available in SA until Tuesday 19th August 2014 unless sold out prior. Savings are based on our standard selling prices. Multibuy offers apply to the quantity advertised only. Limit rights reserved. Specials may not be available in all stores including Alice Springs or through Woolworths online. ^At this great price no further discounts apply. *Standard local call charges apply. ‡Full Terms & Conditions available at bws.com.au. Open Aust res. 18+. Starts: 8am AEST 6/8/14. Ends: 11:59pm AEST 26/8/14. Retain original receipt/s or online purchase order/s. Max. 1 entry/person/day. Weekly draw winners published www.bws.com.au 2/9/14. Promoter: Woolworths Ltd (ABN 88 000 014 675) 1 Woolworths Way, Bella Vista, NSW 2153. Permits: NSW LTPS/14/05027, VIC 14/4573, ACT TP14/02212, SA T14/1167. www.thesoutheasterntimes.com.au BP130815SA2 The South Eastern Times, Thursday, August 14, 2014 - 3 R A O L F L
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