The eIMPACT Early Intervention in Psychosis Service provides specialist services for young people aged between 14-25 years, who are experiencing psychosis, who have not received effective treatment for psychosis previously and who live in the MidCentral Health area. We offer an up to two-year multi-professional service for young people who present with first episode psychosis.
“Psychosis” describes symptoms that can accompany some forms of mental illness. These symptoms vary between different people. Some of the most common psychotic symptoms include:
What are the early signs?
Usually there are some noticeable changes in a person before the obvious symptoms of psychosis develop. These changes are called early signs. The early signs may be vague and difficult to consistently notice. The important thing to look for is if these changes get worse or simply don’t go away.
Early signs vary from person to person. In the early phase, there may be changes in the way some people describe their feelings, thoughts and perceptions.
Early signs:
A person may become suspicious, depressed, anxious, irritable, angry.
A person may experience mood swings, sleep disturbances, appetite changes, loss of energy or motivation.
A person may feel their thoughts are speeded up or slowed down, things are somehow different, things around them seem changed.
Often family and friends are the first to notice changes. Family and friends may notice when:
- A person’s behaviour changes
- A person’s studies or work deteriorate
- A person becomes more withdrawn or isolated
- A person is no longer interested in socialising
- A person becomes less active
- When ‘something is not quite right’.
Service Provided: