Page 88 - 2017-2018 Department of Psychiatry Annual Report

Further mandates of the program are for the individual. The team aims Early Psychosis Program can also be
education (training medical students, to minimize the disruption of the found on pages 32 and 68.
nursing students, psychology interns, lives of youth and young adults who
residents, graduate students and experience psychosis, such that Reproductive Mental Health
post-doctoral fellows); and research educational, vocational, social and Services
(most program members are active other roles can be maintained, while RMHS is a program that is jointly
researchers). You can read more also minimizing the societal impact funded by NSHA and the IWK, but
about work in mood disorders on of psychosis. This includes reducing is run out of the IWK. RMHS is a
page 29. demand in other areas of mental subspecialty clinic for women over
health, health and social services
Nova Scotia Provincial Early system, and reducing burden on the age of 18 who are pregnant
or postpartum, and currently
Psychosis Intervention families. suffering from mental illness. RMHS
Service (EPINS) The provincial program will be offers consultation, diagnostic
The Nova Scotia provincial Early coordinated and recovery focused, assessment and clarification,
Psychosis Intervention Service offering realistic optimism. It will medication recommendations,
(EPINS) is focused on reducing facilitate optimal engagement of youth psychopharmacological and
the duration of untreated psychosis and young adults, be accessible, psychotherapeutic treatment on a
(DUP) through early identification and non-stigmatizing, collaborative and short- to medium-term basis. They
in conjunction with comprehensive empowering. accept referrals from all of Nova
evidence-based phase specific Scotia, and occasionally from New
treatment, potentially reducing You can read more about EPINS in Brunswick and PEI. Referral sources
the burden and severity of illness, our Mission Statement in Action on include obstetricians, midwives,
resulting in maximized outcomes page 15. Further information on the family physicians, pediatricians (for

Dr. Keri -Leigh Cassidy from Seniors Mental Health works with a patient.

88 DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY