2. • Understand what psychosis is
• Be able to spot the early warning signs
• Know how to help someone get help
AFTER THIS SHORT PRESENTATION, YOU WILL:
4. SO WHAT IS PSYCHOSIS?
Psychosis is a mental health problem that causes people to perceive or
interpret things differently from those around them. This might involve
hallucinations or delusions.
5. IT’S A YOUNG PERSON’S DISEASE
• Most mental illnesses are chronic diseases of the young
• Symptoms commonly first appear in people age 16-25
35 85% OF PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM
PSYCHOTIC ILLNESSES DEVELOPED
THIS BEFORE THEY TURNED 35
6. SO WHAT ARE THE COMMON CAUSES OF PSYCHOSIS?
• mental illnesses (e.g. schizophrenia)
• medical illnesses (e.g. epilepsy)
• substances: such as alcohol or drugs
7. JUST LIKE ANY OTHER MEDICAL PROBLEM
• People suffering from psychosis did nothing to “cause” their disease
• It requires treatment just like any other illness or injury
• The sooner someone gets treatment the more likely they are to get better
8. THE KEY TO SEEKING HELP IS UNDERSTANDING SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
• Hallucinations - seeing or hearing things that aren’t there
• Delusions - believing things that aren’t true, and are often impossible
• Thought Disorder - trouble putting thoughts in order or keeping track of usual tasks
• Lack of insight and self-awareness
The combination of hallucinations and
delusional thinking can often severely disrupt
perception, thinking, emotion and behavior.
9. PSYCHOSIS SYMPTOMS - HALLUCINATIONS
• Sight – may see colors and shapes, or people or
animals that aren't there
• Sounds - hear indistinct noises or voices that
may be angry or critical
• Smell – usually a strange or unpleasant odor
• Taste – some people with psychosis have
complained of having a constant unpleasant
taste in their mouth
10. SIGNS OF PSYCHOSIS
Watch for changes in behavior such as:
• withdrawing from usual activities with friends
• spacing out or falling behind in tasks
• social isolation
12. SIGNS IN SCHOOL
• Falling asleep in class
• Struggling with basic work
• Paying less attention to personal appearance and hygiene
13. WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE THE SIGNS
If you believe you see the signs of psychotic disorder in
someone you know then they need your help.
IF YOUR FRIEND WAS HURTING
YOU’D CALL A DOCTOR
14. WHAT IF PEOPLE TREATED PHYSICAL ILLNESS LIKE MENTAL ILLNESS?
15. TOO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE, AND THOSE AROUND THEM,
IGNORE THE SYMPTOMS OF PSYCHOSIS AND AVOID GETTING NECESSARY TREATMENT
16.
17.
18. Treatment is effective. The sooner treatment is started,
the better the recovery.
MYTH:
TREATMENT DOESN’T WORK
#1
19. Don’t believe the scary things you see in movies.
Treatment is safe and comfortable.
MYTH:
TREATMENT IS SCARY AND PAINFUL
#2
20. Early treatment often happens in an office. The patient
comes in for treatment and then goes home again.
MYTH:
TREATMENT MEANS BEING LOCKED IN A HOSPITAL
#3
23. TAKE THE MINDCHECK QUIZ AT MINDMAPCT.ORG
This quiz is for young people wondering if they have
psychosis or for their friends or family
24. OUR MISSION:
To work with our community to transform pathways to professional care
for those who have recently suffered the onset of a psychotic illness
25. OUR TREATMENT:
• a full assessment of your needs to navigate a clear path to mental health
• prescriptions for medications when required
• psychological services
• social, occupational and educational supports
26. OUR OUTCOMES:
STEP has followed >150 young people with psychosis over the past 6 years,
and in their first year after engagement
Those in treatment with us were 50% less likely to be hospitalized and 90%
of them were vocationally engaged
28. AVERAGE COST OF A WEEK’S
TREATMENT AT STEP CLINIC$290
Average cost of one week of
incarceration in Connecticut
Average cost of one week in
a psychiatric hospital
$835
$6,840
29. TRAPPED IN THE CYCLE
Back Home
Psychotic Episode Hospital
Police Called
Jail
32. EARLY TREATMENT
• The sooner someone with psychosis symptoms gets the treatment
they need… the better and faster their recovery will be.
EARLY DETECTION SAVES MINDS
QUALITY OF LIFE
EARLY TREATMENT REGULAR TREATMENT UNTREATED
YEARS
38. MEDIA – OUTREACH
EARLY INTERVENTION FOR PSYCHOSIS
WHO DO WE TREAT?
Recent onset of psychosis (<3 years)
16 - 35 years
Restricted to the following towns:
At risk or 'prodromal' for psychosis
12 - 35 years
No geographic restrictions
47. OUR COMMUNITY ONLINE
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