The Early Psychosis Intervention program is a collaborative initiative between Fraser Health and Ministry of Children and Family Development, Child and Youth Mental Health.
Reaching Out
- The EPI program bridges youth and adult mental health services, as well as the hospital and community.
- Early psychosis is the early stage of any psychotic condition that affects the mind, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
- About three per cent of all people will experience a psychotic episode in their life, and often the first episode occurs in young people between the ages of 13 to 30 years old.
- Studies show that prolonged delay between the onset of psychosis and treatment and the longer the illness is left untreated, the greater the risk. Patients will become less responsive to treatment and there will be a longer recovery period.
- The EPI program is community based with early psychosis specialists providing treatment and case management. Group intervention is offered for family members, adult clients, and adolescent clients.
- Psychosis often disrupts a young person's life at a critical stage of academic and social development. There is a narrow window when intervention can be most effective in reducing disabilities and improving long-term recovery and outcome
The goal of the EPI program is to recognize the signs and symptoms of psychosis early so that effective treatment can be started as soon as possible. The program provides much-needed clinical services and education intended to promote wellness, reduce socially isolating behaviour, and restore previous levels of functioning. The EPI program offers clinical services for people:
- experiencing their first psychotic episode;
- have a suspected psychosis;
- have a family history of psychotic disorder; and
- experiencing a recent deterioration in the ability to function.
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