The document discusses collaborations between mental health and education organizations in Ontario to increase awareness and understanding of psychosis. It describes four initiatives - developing multilingual infographics about psychosis, an online learning module for mental health professionals, contributing a chapter on psychosis to a school mental health guidebook, and hosting a webinar on psychosis for post-secondary institutions. Key lessons learned included the need for cultural and linguistic sensitivity in translations, competing stakeholder priorities, lack of awareness about psychosis, and the time required to coordinate multiple organizations.

1. G. CONRAD1,2 C. CHENG3, 4, 5 T. BEDARD6 S. BROMLEY5 K. KARIOJA5 C. LEM4 A. SHAUGHNESSY7 K. SHORT8 C. WILLINSKY9
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH & EDUCATION:
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATIONS
BACKGROUND
• The Early Psychosis Intervention Ontario Network (EPION), a provincial coalition of 40+
early psychosis intervention (EPI) programs
• strong EPI network across the province, but key partners missing – focused on education
• Community of Interest grants through Evidence Exchange Network, Centre for Addiction
and Mental Health (CAMH)
• to promote collaboration and information exchange
• money and in-kind
WHY IS PSYCHOSIS IMPORTANT?
Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood:
A High Risk for Mental Disorders
WHAT IS PSYCHOSIS?
The term “psychosis” describes conditions that affect the
mind, causing a loss of contact with reality or trouble
deciding what’s real and what’s not. Common symptoms
of psychosis include hallucinations, delusions (false
beliefs), paranoia, or disorganized thoughts and speech.
Place Program Label Here
Mailing Label (15/8” x 1”)
WATCH FOR REMEMBER WHAT TO DO
Stress Vulnerability.
When stress increases, youth are
more likely to experience psychosis.
Changes in Mood
Anxiety, depression, irritability.
POSITIVE SYMPTOMS
NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS
COGNITIVE SYMPTOMS
Look beyond the surface.
Positive symptoms are just the tip of
the iceberg.
Dispel Myths and Stigma
Stay informed, open-minded,
and non-discriminating.
It Can Happen to Anyone
Psychosis is most common in
young adults. Most make a
full recovery.
Watch Your Language
Banish hurtful words like
“crazy” and “psycho”.
TO FIND A SERVICE,
VISIT WWW.EPION.CA
Don’t Dismiss.
Don’t dismiss behavioural changes
as a part of adolescence.
Play it Safe
Take family concerns seriously!
Make a Referral
When the youth and family are
ready, refer to local services.
Keep the Door Open
Your responsibility does not
end with referral. Ongoing
support is essential to recovery.
Changes in Thinking
Suspiciousness,amotivation,
difficulties with memory and
concentration.
Changes in Behaviour
Social withdrawal, sleep
disturbance, decline in role
functioning.
ABOUT THE EARLY PSYCHOSIS INTERVENTION ONTARIO NETWORK
The Early Psychosis Intervention Ontario Network (EPION) is
a network of specialized service providers, clients, and their
families. Our goal is to provide early treatment and
support to all Ontarians dealing with psychosis.
OVERALL LEARNINGS
• This is an excellent time to be collaborating with the education
system.
• There is a readiness for new partners to get involved.
• There is a lack of awareness and understanding of psychosis.
• There are numerous mental health initiatives within education
that remain uncoordinated
• Everything takes longer than you expect.
“There is no health without mental health.”
- World Health Organization
1
3. Thunder Bay Branch
7. Toronto Branch
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7
4 5 6
2
8 9
INITIATIVES
Initiative #1: Infographics
• Two infographics developed
• translated into French, Italian, Chinese, Spanish, Punjabi and Portuguese
• Lessons Learned:
• language is a complicated thing
• language usage in mental health is very important
• many culture/language do not have direct or accurate translation
• meaning can become “lost in translation’
• need to be both culturally and language aware and specific
Initiative #2: School Mental Health ASSIST
• Developed learning module for mental health professionals
• revised based on feedback; special interest group MH leads
• desire for on-line learning tool for MH professionals
• Lessons learned:
• everything takes longer than you expect
• understand your target audience
• agendas may not match
• funding timelines may not match
• requirements may change
• information dissemination issues (discrepancy between and within Boards of Education)
• mental health not everyone’s priority
Initiative #3: “Supporting Minds”
• Developed chapter on psychosis
• > 150 pages, no mention of psychosis
• “We don’t have psychosis in our schools”
• Lessons learned:
• everything takes longer than you expect
• funding timelines may not match
• competing priorities
Initiative #4: Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health
• Webinar for post- secondary schools
• counselling, accommodation & health services
• how psychosis presents
• how to accommodate and reintegrate
• on-campus vs. off-campus support services
• Lessons learned:
• counsellors have varying levels of training
• need to find students who do not access services/go undetected
• need to expand community of practice (e.g., resident dons, students leaders, teaching
assistants)
Psychosis is a symptom.
Like a fever or a cough;
psychosis is not a diagnosis.
EARLY PSYCHOSIS
INTERVENTION
WWW.EPION.CA EP ON
EP ON Learn more about
EPION here:
www.epion.ca
Download this
poster here:
slidesha.re/1zusRjm