The Department of Health has set up an early intervention team to support mental health professionals working with young people at risk of developing a serious mental illness.
Minister for Health, John Hill said the Early Psychosis Intervention Service (EPIS) would give mental health staff the skills and knowledge needed to help adolescents through a first episode of psychosis.
“Getting help early to identify and treat someone the first time they become unwell is absolutely critical, both to the individual and their family.” Mr Hill said.
Health initiative for young people
“Since the start of this year, the EPIS team have been working with mental health staff across the State on how to spot the first symptoms of serious mental illness in young people.”
He said this would allow staff to begin early treatment and hopefully reduce the chances of another psychotic episode.
Mr Hill said in the majority of cases, the first episode of psychosis occurred in younger people aged between 16 and 25.
He said EPIS was a key part of the State’s mental health reform plan and would be a focus of clinical excellence, research and support for both the Adult Mental Health Services and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
The Minister said the Federal Government had recently announced additional funding of $2.8 million over four years to expand the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre model in South Australia and would work with the State Government to implement this.
The SA Social Inclusion Board recommended the development of a specialist Early Psychosis Intervention Service in its 2007 ‘Stepping Up’ Report.
“It’s really important that mental health staff know the best ways to support young people during their first episode of mental illness and then get them on the road to treatment and a healthier future,” Mr Hill said.
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