PSYCHOSIS: SYMPTOMS, SIGNS AND STEPS TO EFFECTIVE TREATMENT

• 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:

MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK

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.

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

SO WHAT ARE THE COMMON CAUSES OF PSYCHOSIS?• mental illnesses (e.g. schizophrenia)

• medical illnesses (e.g. epilepsy)

• substances: such as alcohol or drugs

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

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.

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

SIGNS OF PSYCHOSISWatch for changes in behavior such as:

• withdrawing from usual activities with friends

• spacing out or falling behind in tasks

• social isolation

“IT STARTED WITH MYLOSS OF INTEREST INBASICALLY EVERYTHING”

SIGNS IN SCHOOL• Falling asleep in class

• Struggling with basic work

• Paying less attention to personal appearance and hygiene

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE THE SIGNSIf 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

WHAT IF PEOPLE TREATED PHYSICAL ILLNESS LIKE MENTAL ILLNESS?

TOO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE, AND THOSE AROUND THEM, IGNORE THE SYMPTOMS OF PSYCHOSIS AND AVOID GETTING NECESSARY TREATMENT

Treatment is effective. The sooner treatment is started, the better the recovery.

MYTH: TREATMENT DOESN’T WORK

#1

Don’t believe the scary things you see in movies. Treatment is safe and comfortable.

MYTH: TREATMENT IS SCARY AND PAINFUL

#2

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

TREATMENT AREA NOW EXPANDED TO INCLUDE

MILFORD AND BRANFORD

TAKE THE MINDCHECK QUIZ AT MINDMAPCT.ORG This quiz is for young people wondering if they have

psychosis or for their friends or family

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

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

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

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

AVERAGE COST OF A WEEK’S

TREATMENT AT STEP CLINIC$290

Average cost of one week ofincarceration in Connecticut

Average cost of one week ina psychiatric hospital

$835

$6,840

TRAPPED IN THE CYCLE

Back Home

Psychotic Episode Hospital

Police Called

Jail

BREAK THE CYCLE

Back Home

Psychotic Episode

Police Called

Hospital Jail

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

If in doubt about eligibility, just call us.

203 589 0388 | www.mindmapct.org

OUR TEAM

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

PSYCHOSIS

UNDERSTAND THE ILLNESS.

LAUNCH – FEBRUARY 2015

MEDIA – TRANSIT

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

MEDIA – BILLBOARDS

COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

YOUTUBE

YEAR ONE

Social media impressions

SCOREBOARD

Website visits

OUR COMMUNITY ONLINE

Completed quiz

2,980,000

13,962

582

Clients Enrolled 37

Clients Eligible 137

OUR COMMUNITY ONLINE

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ACTIONCALL TO

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RECRUITING ACTIVISTS

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