This document provides information about psychosis, including its symptoms, causes, and effective treatment options. It summarizes that psychosis causes people to perceive or interpret things differently than others around them. Common symptoms include hallucinations and delusions. Early treatment is most effective and the sooner someone seeks treatment, the more likely they are to recover well. Ignoring symptoms can lead to problems like hospitalization or incarceration, while early treatment programs provide medication, therapy and support for a better outcome.

1. PSYCHOSIS: SYMPTOMS, SIGNS
AND STEPS TO EFFECTIVE TREATMENT

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:

3. MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK

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

11. “IT STARTED WITH MY
LOSS OF INTEREST IN
BASICALLY EVERYTHING”

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

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

22. TREATMENT AREA NOW EXPANDED TO INCLUDE
MILFORD AND BRANFORD

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

27. High School
College
Mental Health
Services
Public
Charity/Clergy
Primary Care
Hospital
Social
Services
Judicial
Police/Probation
Consumer/
Youth/Orgs.
Branches of
Government
PATHWAYS TO CARE: MINDMAP

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

30. BREAK THE CYCLE
Back Home
Psychotic Episode
Police Called
Hospital 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

33. If in doubt about eligibility, just call us.

34. 203 589 0388 | www.mindmapct.org
OUR TEAM

35. WHATCANYOUDO?
PSYCHOSIS UNDERSTAND THE ILLNESS.

36. LAUNCH – FEBRUARY 2015

37. MEDIA – TRANSIT

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

39. MEDIA – BILLBOARDS

40. COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS

41. COMMUNITY OUTREACH

42. COMMUNITY OUTREACH

43. YOUTUBE

44. YEAR ONE

45. Social media
impressions
SCOREBOARD
Website visits
OUR COMMUNITY ONLINE
Completed quiz
2,980,000
13,962
582
Clients Enrolled 37
Clients Eligible 137

47. OUR COMMUNITY ONLINE
Like us on Facebook. Follow,
share, tweet, retweet
contribute to all social media
platforms
ACTIONCALL TO
facebook.com/mindmapct
youtube.com/mindmapct
instagram.com/mindmapct
linkedin.com/mindmapct
twitter.com/mindmapct
pinterest.com/mindmapct
mindmapct.org

48. RECRUITING
ACTIVISTS

49. redrockbranding.com
203 295 4882