A specialized, community-based mental health and substance use service offering assessment, treatment and recovery support for individuals aged 13–30 experiencing a first episode of psychosis.
Address Notes
Clients can expect:
- Screening and clinical assessment for potential psychotic disorder
- Outreach and active client engagement in services
- Pharmacological and other psychosocial symptom management approaches
- Education about symptoms and treatments, delivered individually and in groups
- Relapse prevention planning and strategies to maintain wellness
- Occupational and rehabilitative interventions to achieve optimal functional recovery
- Support, crisis management, coping and stress management
- Family education, support and family therapy
- Assistance with referring to other support needs such as education, work, housing and substance use
- Specialist psychological interventions
- Community education to raise awareness of early psychosis and increase identification of potential clients
Spoke locations and hours:
Chilliwack Mental Health Centre
- 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 45470 Menholm Road, Chilliwack, B.C., V2P 1M2
Mission Mental Health Centre
- 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 7298 Hurd St., 3rd Floor, Mission, B.C., V2V 3H5
Hope Mental Health Centre
- 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 1275 7th Ave, Hope, B.C., V0X 1L4
Hours of operation
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
*4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. family groups*
Eligibility
Clients are:
- Ages 13-30
- Currently experiencing a first psychotic episode or within 2 years of diagnosis of first episode psychosis without previous appropriate treatment (such as antipsychotic medication and case management).
Clients cannot be supported into the program if:
- Their symptoms are only explained by a pre-existing personality disorder
- They have a moderate/profound intellectual disability
- Their main diagnosis is a substance use disorder (Note: having substance use alongside another mental health condition does not automatically exclude someone)
- Their psychosis is clearly caused by another medical illness
- They have already been working with a mental health team for 3-6 months and are receiving treatment for psychosis.
Clients who do not meet the criteria for EPI will be referred to the most appropriate resource.
Referral
A referral can be made by anybody, including clients, family and natural supports, hospitals, schools, general practitioners, community clinicians or clinicians from other health authorities.
To make a referral, please call the sites’ contact information to reach the EPI intake clinicians. If the referral comes from a professional care provider, supporting documents can be faxed to the local intake number for review.