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New Experiences: Neurodiversity & Substance Use (CityWide)

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New Experiences: Neurodiversity & Substance Use (CityWide)

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I attended a conference on Neurodiversity and Substance Use conducted by CityWide and Trinity College Dublin.

This event broadened my knowledge on some of the statistics surrounding neurodiversity and substance use in Dublin and the surrounding areas.

A key takeaway from the event for me was understanding the term 'Dual Diagnosis' and the barriers those with a dual diagnosis of a substance issue and a mental health issue face when seeking treatment. One of the major barriers to treatment is how unrecognised dual diagnosis is in Ireland. If you struggle with a mental health disorder while using substances, you will only be treated for one issue, although both problems can be strongly dependent on each other.

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Peer Family Support is a mutual aid and support programme that aims to enhance a family member's quality of life, coping skills, and support systems.

Peer Family Support entails multiple elements. These include but are not defined to

Realising you are not alone while focusing on you and your needs.

Guiding you to look at some of your thoughts, feelings and behaviours and explore whether these are working for you.

Building personal strength and increasing both resiliance and well-being.

Finding motivation to engage in self-care, challenge your own thinking patterns and communicate assertively.

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I do not fully know what I expected. I knew the work would be complex but I never fully understood what is involved in a service like Family Peer Support

It isn't every day you're given an opportunity to work with family members who have relatives dealing with substance problems.

It struck me that although services are so important for those with a substance use issue, the services for family members are just as important.

I entered placement with rose-coloured glasses, thinking everything was peachy and ideal. In reality, that is not the case with services as such, and I learned that throughout my placement.

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Here is a quick list of some of the tasks I have completed during my placement.

Evaluating possible Respite locations for the benefit of the family members.

Enhancing social media engagement through Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin.

Representing SERFSN at public events such as conferences and PPN's.

Attending Family Peer Support Group meetings across the South East.

Report writing on both Peer Supervision and Respite for Family Members.

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Although I looked forward to the sibling group, I was unsure how the meeting would go due to my presence or if I would upset the group dynamic.

I understood how much of a sacred space this group is for them and shifted my focus on what was happening for them.

I found myself capable of empathising with them, although I did not fully understand exactly how they were feeling. I also remained cautious of my empathy levels throughout the meeting as I tend to take things home and unintentionally carry other's feelings home.

This appeared to be common amongst the siblings as they described how they carry their sibling's blocks when they do not have to.

I found it difficult to comprehend where the group's processing occurred. This could be due to how I understood facilitation through college but I began to fully grasp how it varies completely from group to group, especially for a family peer support group (FSG).

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Family support groups were something I had never experienced before, and I got a feel for just how much strength it takes to sit in the group, as a family support worker and as a member of the group.

Some of the stories I heard broke my heart, and I watched in admiration as the family support workers, my colleagues, remained so professional, yet empathetic and understanding of the issues arising. Some of the issues included jail, drug debts, and violence. The members of the group can fully understand each other, no matter what stage the family member is in, and offer support to each other. I began to see how empowering groups such as these are.

It can become difficult to listen to upsetting stories each week and I noticed how my collegues not only supported the family members, but supported themselves over the last few months. Between debriefing after the meetings to grounding themselves, my collegues enabled me to understand that in order to help people keep themselves well, I have to keep myself well too.

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I had never even heard of the term 'Public Participation Network' until I walked in the door of Castlecomer PPN.

A PPN involves connecting local authorities with various community groups. This, in turn, enables the citizens of the area to participate in the local governance of their area (Department of Rural and Community Development, 2025).

The PPN was full of various community groups such as 'Samaritans' and 'Macra na Feirme'. This event allowed the SERFSN to network with multiple organisations and raise awareness about the services offered.

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New Experiences: BEWELL Wellbeing Programme

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New Experiences: BEWELL Wellbeing Programme

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I participated in the Bewell programme that the network was running and helped organise the programme.

When helping organise the programme, I saw just how complicated it is between ensuring numbers arrive, finding a venue, seeking a suitable facilitator and more.

This element of placement is linked quite strongly with my module 'Workplace Health Promotion', in which we plan, implement and evaluate workplace health promotion initiatives using the workplace health promotion model. (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d).

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Confidentiality is a major component of family support groups, and although I knew who was in the group and that what was said in the group stayed inside the group, I met many members outside of the group by chance.

It sounds silly now I am reflecting on it, but I was so unsure whether I should acknowledge I knew them or not. I also first carried this sense of 'I feel bad' knowing what they are going through and I really had to force myself out of that mindset.

I truly began to understand a professional boundary. Yes, I may have attended a meeting someone was in yesterday as a placement student, but as of currently, I am in a different space and role.

It was challenging for sure because I never experienced anything along the lines of professional boundaries as such before.

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New Skill: Personal & Professional Boundaries and How to Set Them

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New Skill: Personal & Professional Boundaries and How to Set Them

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I was asked if I would be comfortable writing first drafts of two reports for the network. This seemed so terrifying to me, although I write academically in college.

I felt a great sense of responsibility and pride when I was asked to draft the two reports. It was a very professional task to get and showed me that the network really trusted and believed in me and my abilities.

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I learned so much throughout the placement from the moment I set foot in the door. Although it is a tough, challenging role, the sense of reward I felt leaving meetings was surreal, and to know I was supporting someone through such a complicated time in their life left me with a great sense of accomplishment. The Network enabled me to realise just how crucial community organisations are when keeping people generally well and healthy.

I started to greatly understand the struggles family members face as the weeks progressed, from their loved one using substances to the public stigmatisation from the community, and even had to challenge my internal stigma against people at times, too. I greatly enjoyed the course of my placement and the snippet I got of working with Southeast Regional Family Support Network, and hopefully, in the future, I can return in a volunteer role.

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Thank you for listening to my presentation.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Strategies for building a workplace health programme. https://www.cdc.gov/workplace-health-promotion/php/model/building.html

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South East Regional Family Support Network (SERFSN)

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South East Regional Family Support Network (SERFSN)

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I completed my placement with 'South East Regional Family Support Network'.

The organisation offers Peer Family Support for relatives who are affected by a family member's substance/drug use.

Family peer support acknowledges a whole family approach to recovery. Family members can come together in a safe, confidential space and can fully express themselves amongst other family members experiencing a similar situation.

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Jeremy Lescano