Early Psychosis Intervention
Strategies
Services
Vancouver Richmond Early Psychosis Intervenion
Fraser South Early Psychosis Program
Contact your local mental health team or one of the above links for early psychosis services in your area
Psychosis is when a person has an illness of the brain that makes it hard for them to tell what is real and what is not. It is called a ‘first episode’ when a person experiences this problem for the first time.
Psychosis is very upsetting to both the person who is experiencing it, and to their family and friends. It can cause a lot of longstanding problems if it is left untreated. These problems include problems with the person’s sense of self-identity, delays and problems with getting a good education or career, and having a hard time getting by socially and personally.
We also know that the longer psychosis continues without medical treatment, the greater the risk of personal or legal harm. Psychosis has been linked to a variety of other problems including drug/substance misuse, depression and suicide.
Early intervention is when professionals try to find people experiencing psychosis and get them medical treatment as soon as possible, ideally in their first episode or soon after.
When psychosis is caught and treated early, people recover more easily and do better in the long run as well. However, the longer they are ill without treatment, the longer it takes for them to stop having symptoms, the less completely they recover, and the more likely they will get sick again. Because of this, early psychosis intervention (EPI) programs try to catch and treat psychosis early, ideally the first time a person has it. They do this so they can help people be sick for a shorter period of time, and be less severely sick as well. When psychosis is treated early, the person will have fewer related problems.
Because of what we know about the value of early psychosis treatment, it is important to make sure professionals, youth and the general public are aware of what psychosis is and how important it is to get treatment early, so everyone can help.
Education for Professionals
School teachers, counsellors and family doctors all need to be aware of the warning signs of early psychosis and what steps they need to take to make sure the person gets early help.
BCSS’s resource page has sections for professionals and educators, as well as other resources suitable to be given to patients, clients, students and their families. Below are some featured ones for medical professionals.
This report is based on a set of surveys aimed at assessing the state of service delivery in BC and provides a snapshot of Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) services and programs through 2003 - 2004. It is an important benchmark document for ongoing evaluation of services in British Columbia.
The Guide provides an overview of practices believed to be optimal in treating and assessing early psychosis.
Early Psychosis: A Care Guide Summary 
Summary highlights the approach and principal recommendations contained in the Early Psychosis Care Guide
Education for Youth
Psychosis usually first strikes people in their teens and early twenties. Because this illness affects 3% of the population and needs to be treated immediately, up-to-date information should be part of studies in high schools, colleges and universities. The BC Schizophrenia Society has several education programs aimed at helping people better understand psychosis.
“Reaching Out: The Need For Early Treatment” is a stand-alone high school resource kit designed to heighten awareness among students, teachers, and counselors about the early signs and symptoms of psychosis and to help increase understanding of the importance of early intervention and treatment.The kit includes a video, teacher’s guide, lesson plans and student materials. Developed by the BC Schizophrenia Society, the program has become so successful, it has now been nationalized and is available through the Schizophrenia Society of Canada’s website www.schizophrenia.ca.
The BC Schizophrenia Society’s Partnership Education program is another program used with high school and university students throughout British Columbia. The Society has also pioneered a popular elementary school Puppet Show (aimed primarily at Grade 4/5 students). For more information about these programs please click here.
The Fraser South Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) Program offers an informative website www.psychosissucks.ca. This site promotes early detection, educates about psychosis and information on how to get help.
Education for the General Public
Public education programs are needed to help people understand psychotic disorders, and be aware of how important it is to get treatment early. Stigma and fear of being rejected by others are often the biggest barriers to getting help early. Psychosis is a condition that can be effectively treated and managed so that it does not significantly interfere with a person’s life. Finding effective ways to raise awareness and reduce stigma are vital to the success of early intervention programs.
The BC Schizophrenia Society has developed television and radio public service announcements aimed at increasing awareness about schizophrenia. These PSAs are available for viewing by clicking here. More information is available on our Resources page as well.
Updated May 30, 2006