Writer

About Dual Diagnosis Ireland

Dual Diagnosis is the term used when a person suffers from both a substance abuse/dependence problem and another mental health problem such as an anxiety disorder. Mental health Services are currently not organised to treat such people holistically. If you have difficulties abstaining from alcohol due to anxiety, you can’t enter rehabilitation services (most residential drug services insist you must be “dry” before entry). Yet you can’t get your anxiety treated because your addiction must be treated first. It’s a chicken and egg situation, yet there is little awareness of this in Ireland. Despite the fact that up to 53% of people with drug addictions have a dual diagnosis there is no mention of this in the Government’s new national mental health policy “A Vision for Change”.

What's Involved

Lifewise is a online anonymous service where women start getting help for alcohol misuse. . You can see the services we provide at https://alifewise.ie/alcohol-services/

We’d like some more great content for our website. We’re interested in all types of content, from writing, cartoons, poems, art, video’s etc. You do not have to be a professional writer or have published previously.

What do I have to do?
All you have to do is write your first 300 word piece and send it to us at info@alifewise.ie.You can find writing guidelines here https://alifewise.ie/writing-about-alcohol/ .We need a minimum of 3 posts of 300 words each.. We’ll quickly let you know whether we can publish.

What's required for this position

You don’t have to be a published writer. You just need to be able to write in a way that interests our readers.
You don’t have to an expert. If you have a drink problem you don’t have be in control of your drinking. You just need to have something to say about the way alcohol is used in our society.
It is very important your writing comes across as warm and supportive with no judgement of people who drink too much.
Very often people who drink too much feel isolated, ashamed and alone. Here in Lifewise, we aim to change this. There is no shame, judgement or criticism here. Just support from people who know what it’s like to have a drink problem.

• Other

Level of English required for this role:
Fluent English

Times and commitment required for this role

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Morning	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Afternoon	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Evening	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Minimum time commitment: 3 months

Hours required: 3hrs Weekly

Other Details

Location of volunteering opportunity:
Ireland

Other location details:
Ireland

Screening details for this role:

• No screening

Volunteers will be provided with the following supports:

• Support/ advice/ recognition

Age restrictions:
Over 18

Benefits you will receive as a volunteer

Opportunity to get their writing published. Be part of a growing movement to help change Ireland's alcohol culture

Getting there

Online