Online References for the "CALL to ACTION" document
Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention
- Research and Funding
- Federal and provincial government funding for early psychosis research.
- Federal and provincial government funding for first episode psychosis programming (including service to rural areas) across Canada.
- Hospital funding for early intervention programming.
- Evaluation and Treatment
- In home assessment and treatment services for youth experiencing their first episode of psychosis.
- Two-year assertive case management for youth diagnosed with psychosis.
- Longer-term medical management of youth with psychosis.
- Treatment team for youth who are slow to recover from positive symptoms of psychosis.
- Psycho-education to teach youth about psychosis, medication, drugs/alcohol and stress.
- Group counseling to help youth deal with self-identity, self-esteem, stigma and disclosure related issues.
- Group model cognitive skills instruction.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
- Diet and nutrition counseling.
- After hours clinical services to facilitate youth who are working, or attending school.
- Youth and Family Support
- Liaison to act as intermediary between police, courts, hospitals and families of youth in crisis.
- Psycho-education workshops for families.
- Continuing education for caregivers.
- Early psychosis care guide for families outlining symptoms, medication, relapse prevention, mental heath services and other resources.
- Illustrated relapse prevention care guide containing early symptoms, action of medication on the brain, drug/alcohol, nutrition, stress and self-esteem information for young people with psychosis.
- Early psychosis resource libraries (that include 'client perspective' art, music, books, videos, etc).
- Client volunteer and employment program (skills training through community outreach work, work in clinic libraries, community resource centres, helping out with art and recreational events, etc).
- Employment and education counseling (resume and job placement services; liaison with employers, educators and Services for Student's with Disabilities personnel; assistance with OSAP, scholarship and academic forms).
- Assistance finding living accommodations.
- Client information covering all aspects of independent living.
- Recreational programs (that include team sports).
- 'Buddy', or client to act as mentor to young people accessing support services for the first time.
- Community Outreach
- Early psychosis educational outreach in high schools, colleges, universities, GP's, health organizations, youth sector workers, etc. This should include poster, pamphlet and other resources on early psychosis, as well as multi-media presentations by youth (whenever possible) and mental health professionals.
- Training program for police, detention centre, jail and shelter personnel to identify symptoms of psychosis and best practice for handling youth in crisis.
- Early psychosis community outreach centres (pubic access to information and resources on early psychosis).
- National early psychosis awareness campaign (television/radio/magazine/newspaper).
- Interactive early psychosis youth/family website.
- Professional early psychosis resource website.
- Community and Other Support
- Art programs for youth with psychosis (after two years treatment) that include:
a) multi-media art workshops taught by mentors in local communities
b) individual psychological counseling
c) development of creative early psychosis resources
d) participation in community projects and events- Full scholarships for students attending post-secondary education to defer cost of tuition, living expenses and special needs.
- Short-term 'no strings attached' government funding to assist reintegration back to school, or work.
- Drug coverage for individuals without government, or private health insurance.
- Integrated and Coordinated Services
- Standardized early psychosis intervention diagnostic and treatment guidelines.
- Development of early intervention services for youth under 16 years of age.
- Inclusion of clients and families in early intervention policy development.
- Partnership among clients, families and mental health service providers.
- Planning and review process to ensure quality and maximize client involvement in early intervention programming.
- Open referral system.
- Continuity of care within mental health system and other services (education, employment, housing, social services, etc).
- Co-ordination of hospital psychiatric services with early intervention programming that include:
a) system to identify first-episode clients accessing hospital emergency services
b) guidelines for care of first-episode clients accessing hospital emergency services c) access to appropriate technology (MRI, CT, EEG, ECG, blood testing, etc.)- Video conferencing technology and support networks so rural family physicians can obtain consultations.
- Removal of 'catchment area' restrictions for immediate access to first-episode psychosis services for individuals in all communities.
Parent Partnership Preventing Psychosis wishes to recognize the contributions of youth with psychosis, families and mental health professionals. Ideas submitted for this project add value beyond measure to the call for evidence-based early evaluation and treatment of psychotic disorders in Canada.PAPP is indebted to Tara Marttinen, PEPP parents, parents at the Ottawa First Episode Psychosis Program, and Professor J.T Ross at Algoma University for their support and assistance with the enclosed report.
Special thanks to the Directors and staff at PEPP in London and Montreal for reviewing 'Caring for Young People with Psychosis' to ensure it meets established best-practice criteria.
Last but not least, heartfelt gratitude to those individuals who struggle everyday, or lost their battle with psychosis. They inspired this grassroots campaign to help prevent delayed treatment and unmanaged care of brain disease in a new generation of youth.
Online References for the "CALL to ACTION" document