EARLY INTERVENTION: CHANGING LIVES,

SAVING LIVESEarly detection of mental illness

makes a difference!

MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS

MYTH

Teenagers don’t suffer from “real” mental illnesses;

they are just moody.

FACT

One in ten children and adolescents suffer from mental illness.

Most severe mental illnesses start in the teenage years.

MYTHS/FACTS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS

MYTH

Mental illnesses cannot be treated.

FACT

Mental illnesses are diagnosed in the same way as asthma,

diabetes, and cancer. Treatments are effective 60-80% of the time, success rates that exceed cutting edge treatment for heart disease.

Adolescence is not just confusing, it’s difficult and stressful.

WHAT IS PSYCHOSIS?

Any of a number of symptoms indicating loss of contact with reality, including:

• Hallucinations• Hearing voices or seeing visions• Delusions• False beliefs or marked suspicions of

others• Disorganized thinking• Jumbled thoughts, difficulty

concentrating

PEOPLE WITH PSYCHOSIS OFTEN EXPERIENCE:

• Social withdrawal• Odd, unusual behavior• Decreased motivation• An inability to enjoy activities• Mood swings• Pervasive anxiety• Disrupted sleep patterns• Changes in appetite and eating• Preoccupation with physical symptoms

THERE IS HOPE WITH EARLY DETECTION

Early Intervention is associated with:

• More rapid and complete recovery

• Preservation of brain functioning

• Preservation of psychosocial skills

• Decreased need for intensive services

• Preservation of supports

EARLY WARNING SIGNS

WHAT ARE THE EARLY WARNING SIGNS?

• Jumbled thoughts or confusion

• Being fearful for no good reason

• Having unusual perceptual experiences and/or hearing sounds/voices that are not there

• Trouble speaking clearly

• Feeling “something’s not quite right”

• Significant social withdrawal and loss of interest in others

• A marked drop in functioning especially at school or work

• Uncharacteristic, peculiar behaviors

• Increasing difficulty with concentration or with keeping thinking on target

HOW CAN I TELL WHETHER IT’S STRESS

OR THE START OF A MENTAL ILLNESS?

Duration of symptoms

Intensity of symptoms

Degree of disruption

Clustering of symptoms

Genetic risk

REMEMBER: REACTIONS, SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS ARE A SPECTRUM

Look for intensity and frequency

Normal Stress

Reactions

EarlyWarning

Signs

MentalIllness

Symptoms

TEENAGERS & STRESS:WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE IN NORMAL STRESS REACTION

Emotional/Physical Responses

Sadness (tearfulness)Anger (irritability)Anxiety and fearMild mood swingsFatigueComplaints of aches and pains

Behavioral Responses

Attempts to cope or “fix” the problemAvoidanceDenialWithdrawal from friendsIncrease or decrease in activityUse of substances

PSYCHOSIS OCCURS ON A SPECTRUM

GRANDIOSITY

SUSPICIOUSNESS

AUDITORY HALLUCINATIONS

Young person enjoys basketball

and expects to attend college

on a full scholarship

Young person is heading to Los Angeles because he believes he is talented

enough to join the Lakers

Young woman goes to the mall and feels like people

are

looking at her

She refuses to go to the mall because she is

certain that a specific person is out to harm her

Hearing indistinct buzzing or whispering

Hearing a voice clearly outside your head saying,

“You’re a loser” or “You’re a failure.”

DIAGNOSTIC UNCERTAINTY IS NORMAL IN EARLY INTERVENTION

Observing symptoms over time can provide diagnostic information.

Family history offers important clues.

Labeling prematurely can be misleading and damaging.

THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS NEED

IMMEDIATE ATTENTION:

• Suicidal acts, writing, statements

• Hearing voices no one else can hear

• Seeing visions no one else can see

• Dramatic change in sleep or self-care

• Unfounded fears others are plotting harm

• Believe they posses special powers

• Garbled speech or writing

WHAT TO DO

LEARN MORE & BE AN ADVOCATE FOR YOUR OWN BEST CARE

There are a lot of organizations that offer helpful information and resources on early intervention.

•PIER Training Institute• http://www.piertraining.com/

•Cognitive Assessment and Risk Evaluation (CARE) program http://ucsdcareprogram.com/

•Center for Assessment and Prevention of Prodromal States http://www.capps.ucla.edu/

More links and organizations can be found atwww.telecarecorp.com/earlyintervention

BE AWARE & BE OPEN

Be the ‘eyes and ears’ of early intervention: know the signs

Be willing to talk openly about what’s going on.

Be gentle and welcoming as these can be scary topics to discuss.

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL RESOURCES

Contact your local county mental health or behavioral health department to see if there is an early intervention

program in your area.

Contact your local NAMI office or the national NAMI helpline:

The Information HelpLine is an information and referral service which can be reached by calling 1 (800) 950-NAMI (6264), Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., EST.  Business callers, including those seeking particular NAMI staff members, should call 1 (703) 524-7600.

http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Find_Support/Helpline/NAMI_Information_HelpLine.htm

ADVOCATE FOR MORE EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES

If you feel strongly about the potential of early intervention services, please join the conversation.

Join and participate in mental health advocacy organizations like

NAMI and Mental Health America

Reach out to your local legislators and talk about the importance of early intervention

Be aware of changes in the mental health industry and mental health legislation and push for resources you feel

will help your local communities