Page 15 - 2017-2018 Department of Psychiatry Annual Report

Heal: Province-wide early psychosis service

The Early Psychosis Program in in the country with the exception
Halifax is at the leading edge of of P.E.I, has at least one program,
care for first episode psychosis and and Ontario boasts more than 50
will soon be a program accessible alone. Provincial governments have
across the province. Led by Dr. Phil recognized the importance of early
Tibbo, the Dr. Paul Janssen Chair intervention services and some
in Psychotic Disorders, as well have dedicated financial resources
as clinical leader for the program, to support EPI services including
the provincial Early Psychosis BC, Ontario, Quebec, and New
Intervention Nova Scotia (EPINS) Brunswick, as well as supporting the
service will focus on reducing the development of provincial standards
duration of untreated psychosis of care. Additionally there is now a
(DUP) through early identification, national organization, the Canadian
and with comprehensive evidence- Consortium for Early Intervention in
based phase specific treatment, Psychosis (CCEIP, epicanada.org)
potentially reduce the burden comprised of a dedicated group of
and severity of illness. It will aim clinicians and researchers whose
to minimize the disruption of the mission is to enhance optimum care
lives of youth and young adults for Canadians in the early phase of
who experience psychosis, so that
they may achieve success in their
educational, vocational, social and
other roles. The EPINS will strive
to minimize the societal impact of
in other areas of mental health, the “By the end of the
psychosis including reducing demand
health and social services system,
and reducing the burden on families.
If all goes well, the EPINS will be fully first year I hope there
functional by winter 2018.
The field of early psychosis and the will be a clear process
development of early intervention
psychosis services began in the
early 1990s. The field is based on
the premise that early identification of identification,
coupled with comprehensive stage
specific treatment leads to better
outcomes for people experiencing a assessment and
first episode of a psychotic disorder.
There is now abundant evidence
supporting that view and research
demonstrating the clinical and cost treatment of early phase
effectiveness of early intervention
psychosis services.
Canada has been a leader in the field psychosis in each of the
of early psychosis. The Nova Scotia
Early Psychosis Program (NSEPP)
with programs in London, Toronto, zones.”
was founded 20 years ago and, along
Calgary and Victoria, was one of
the first early psychosis programs
in Canada. Today every province

Annual Report 2017 | 2018 15