Page 16 - 2017-2018 Department of Psychiatry Annual Report

psychosis through improved service managers, families and consumers Psychosis service, with many
models and the generation and from throughout the province have members of the network now having
translation of knowledge. worked together with the goal of a decade or more of experience with
enhancing care for young people who the clinical and service organization
The NSEPP developed as a clinical develop psychosis or are at high risk issues involved.
academic program associated with of doing so.
the Dalhousie University Department In 2017 Dr. Phil Tibbo was
of Psychiatry, as well as the public The Nova Scotia provincial early approached by senior leadership
mental health system. As it has psychosis intervention network has within the mental health and
evolved, the NSEPP has come to focused on educational activities, addictions program at NSHA to
provide clinical care to people living supporting program development expand the services of the early
in what now is called the Central and creating a strong provincial psychosis program to the entire
Zone of the Nova Scotia Health network of people dedicated to province, in part because of the
Authority (NSHA), but has always early detection and optimal care for active provincial network that already
been involved in offering consultation young people with psychosis. Over existed. From this, Early Psychosis
and education for clinicians and the past several years, with grant Intervention Nova Scotia (EPINS)
families throughout the province. This funding from the Nova Scotia Health was born. Compared to the existing
included helping to develop Mental Research Foundation, the network network, EPINS has more formal
Health Service Standards for Early has conducted a province-wide structure, with defined provincial
Psychosis as part of the Department knowledge sharing initiative titled Key leadership roles, as well as an
of Health service standards Findings in Early Psychosis. One-day improved and supported organization
initiative, which were adopted by meetings were held twice in each and structure within each zone. The
the province in 2004. Part of this of the four provincial zones of the services are intended to provide
was the implementation of a Nova NSHA, with a total attendance of over early detection and optimal stage-
Scotia Early Psychosis Network. The four hundred. The result has been an specific care for people aged 12-35
network, with leadership from the online community of learning, as well years who are experiencing, or are at
NSEPP and support from Dalhousie as the development of web-based high risk of developing, a psychotic
University Department of Psychiatry resource materials. disorder.
and the Department of Health and
Wellness, has provided an active This existing early psychosis The EPINS will focus on seven key
mechanism by which clinicians, network has laid the groundwork objectives: 1) to enhance early case
for a provincial Early Intervention identification; 2) to provide quick

16 DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY EPINS Clinical Director Dr. Phil Tibbo (left), chats with David Whitehorn, EPINS evaluation process coordinator.