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Date: May 7th 2009

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Evaluation results for 2008-2009 show that teachers thought the presentation had increased knowledge about the importance of medical treatment for psychosis. In follow up evaluation about 88% of teachers (and 85% of youth) who'd booked the program could correctly identify at least one sign that might indicate a student is experiencing psychosis, and a similar percentage correctly said they'd refer a student with suspected psychosis to a medical resource such as a doctor, hospital or mental health worker/clinic. While 88% is great, our goal is for 100% of teachers and youth to know about symptoms of psychosis and the importance of medical treatment for this brain condition. (A printable version of this information is available on our website if you'd like to share it with colleagues.)

What’s the most important thing for teachers of youth aged 16+ to know about psychosis?

All young people who may be experiencing psychosis need to be assessed by a doctor or mental health team as soon as possible. Youth 16-30 are at the age when psychosis normally first appears, and rapid medical treatment has been shown to have a big effect on how quickly and thoroughly people recover.

How can I help students get appropriate medical help? Who do I refer students with suspected psychosis to?

Contact your local mental health team or contact an early psychosis intervention (EPI) program if you have one in your area. Here is a link to a listing of such services in BC If you can’t find a service near you, please contact the Kelty Resource Centre for assistance.< /span>

What signs should I watch out for? How do I know a student may be experiencing psychosis?

(The following is excerpted from Vancouver/Richmond Early Psychosis Program)

The following symptoms may indicate that an individual is experiencing psychosis. Frequently, people will display unusual behaviours before the onset of the acute psychotic episode.

Behavioural

· Strange posturing

· Odd or bizarre behaviour

· Feeling refreshed after much less sleep than normal

· Excessive writing without meaning

· Cutting oneself; threats of self-mutilation

· Deterioration of personal hygiene

· Hyperactivity or inactivity, or alternating between the two

· Staring without blinking - or blinking incessantly

· Agitation

· Severe sleep disturbances

· Drug or alcohol abuse (This may be a coping mechanism: self-medicating)

Thinking and Speech

· Things around them seem changed in some way

· Rapid speech that is difficult to interrupt

· Irrational statements

· Extreme preoccupation with religion or with the occult

· Peculiar use of words or odd language structures

· Unusual sensitivity to stimuli (noise, light, colours, textures)

· Memory problems

· Severe distractibility

Social

· Sensitivity and irritability when touched by others

· Refusal to touch persons or objects; wearing gloves, etc.

· Severe deterioration of social relationships

· Dropping out of activities - or out of life in general

· Social withdrawal, isolation, and reclusive

· Unexpected aggression

· Suspiciousness

Emotional

· Inappropriate laughter

· Inability to cry, or excessive crying

· Feelings of depression and anxiety

· Inability to express joy

· Euphoric mood Personality

· Reckless behaviours that are out of character

· Significantly prolonged drops in motivation or speech

· Shift in basic personality.

This newsletter for teachers, and the ReachOut Psychosis program are presented by the BC Schizophrenia Society, in partnership with HereToHelp / BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information.

The ReachOut program's purpose is to make sure youth and their teachers know that psychosis is a medical illness of the brain, what the symptoms are, and that a person with psychosis requires medical attention as soon as possible. We evaluate both students and teachers following the show to make sure this message is coming across.

Pro Dada

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This list is for educators and school counsellors who would like to be kept up to date on the Reach Out psychosis education program and mental health resources for educators and families. Funding for this resource is provided through BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information. http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca More resources for educators can be found at http://www.educators.bcss.org