Entering into, departing from and working within the psychiatric domain

This article is a Festschrift contribution which maps out the similarities in the career trajectories of Professor Peter Huxley and myself. It begins by exploring the key considerations of our common profession; social work, and its relationship with mental health. It then explores how a social orientation has enable us to reframe understandings of dual diagnosis. The second half of the article then explores the key lesson learnt from these interactions. The findings of the contribution are centred around the need for better understanding of the social detriments of mental health and substance use. In reaching these conclusions, the article summarises the importance of seeing individuals for the problems they encounter and working with them in partnership to arrive at more empowered responses.