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Early Intervention |
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The sooner that a psychosis is treated, the better the long-term prognosis or outcome. The converse, unfortunately, is also true: The longer that a psychosis is left untreated, and the more psychotic breaks suffered by someone with the illness, the lower the level of eventual recovery.Early intervention, in other words, is key to optimum outcomes and, for us at North Shore
Schizophrenia Society, it is of urgent importance. Accordingly, almost everything we do in the way of education and awareness has an early-intervention component.
Partnership Education, by explaining the illness to students, teachers and the community, helps people to recognize the illness, especially in those in their late teens and early adulthood when schizophrenia usually strikes. Similarly,
Walk the World, our participation in the West Vancouver
Community Day Parade, and
display tables at various events, break down the stigma that has been associated with the illness in the past, so that families and friends, when they see the illness in a loved one, won’t hesitate to talk about it and take action. |
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NSSS’s role in early psychosis intervention
NSSS is a recognized pioneer in promoting early psychosis intervention (EPI). Reaching Out, produced by
the BC Schizophrenia Society and distributed to high schools throughout British Columbia, was the initial project launching this effort. Subsequently the resource kit was adopted in high schools in Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan, and most recently has been distributed nationally by the Schizophrenia Society of Canada, including in a French-language version. Reaching Out materials have also been presented and enthusiastically received at international conferences. BCSS at the same time was the driving force in advocating a provincially funded EPI initiative. This resulted in a series of pilot projects in different parts of the province, which have now evolved into permanent programs and inspired other new EPI work.
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Other early intervention material
Early Psychosis Intervention
The
importance of EPI, signs and symptoms of
psychosis. Fraser South Early Psychosis
Intervention Program.
Early Psychosis: A Care Guide
A 118-page guide prepared by the Mental Health Evaluation and Community Consultation Unit at the Department of Psychiatry, UBC, available online in a pdf version.
Early Psychosis: A Care Guide Summary
Highlights of the approach and principle recommendations contained in the complete version.
Schizophrenia in Children
The early warning signs in youngsters with schizophrenia, plus guidelines for parents.
EPI Family Coping Booklet
How to live with a family member who
experiences psychosis.
Other guides and booklets from the Early
Psychosis Intervention Program, Fraser South
Includes Relapse Prevention,
Stress Management, Medication,
Persistent Symptoms, Social Supports,
What is Psychosisand much more. |
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