Schizophrenia Daily News Blog

New Early Treatment Centers in Vancouver BC Area

A new Early Treatment program in Vancouver, Canada is being rolled out with a major awareness campaign to help get treatment for young people showing the first signs of schizophrenia.

The Vancouver Province reports this week that:

A Fraser Health psychosis awareness campaign aims to encourage youth to get help through an Early Psychosis Intervention Program when they first have a psychotic episode, rather than waiting in isolation as the illness progresses.

The EPI program is headquartered at Peace Arch Hospital, with clinics and support groups in Surrey, Langley, Delta and White Rock. It offers medical supervision, education, emotional support and help coping with school, work, housing and drug abuse to people 13 to 35.

"Early intervention is a key that opens doors to the potential of prevention," says Fraser Health director of planning and systems development Pam Whiting.

Several mental illnesses involve psychotic episodes, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, delusional disorder, drug-induced psychosis and psychotic depression.

Psychosis affects about three per cent of the population and usually appears in adolescence or early adulthood. Episodes can last from hours to days but, if left untreated, episodes can last weeks or months. Genetics, stress and drug use (particularly amphetamines) are factors.

For more information, visit www.earlypsychosisintervention.ca

Also see our Worldwide List of Early Schizohprenia Diagnosis and Treatment Programs