Launching a French Speaking Branch of IEPA: A Strategy to Promote and Facilitate the Implementation of Early Intervention for Psychosis in French Speaking Countries
Poster C87, Wednesday, October%2010, 11:30%20am%20-%201:00%20pm, Essex%20Ballroom
Amal Abdel-Baki1, Philippe Conus2, Marie-Odile Krebs3; 1Centre hospitalier Université de Montréal, 2Lausanne University, 3Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne
Context: The early intervention paradigm isn’t well implanted in French speaking countries. Although, majority of the population has gained access to Early Intervention Services for psychosis (EIS) in Quebec (Canada), challenges arise in the creation of new programs and in the scaling up of older EIS. In France, despite growing interest, less than 10 centers offer EIS. Only 2 French speaking canton in Switzerland offer EIS. Strategies to support the implementation of evidence-based EIS have been developed locally. In France, the « Transition network » organizes scientific meetings, specialized educational programs and surveys with general practitioners, youth, parents and teachers to provide some clues for EIS implementation. A task force aims to provide a toolkit and a reference framework adapted to the French national MH organization. In Québec, the “Association Québécoise des Programmes pour Premiers Episodes Psychotiques” (AQPPEP) offers mentoring, regular specialized training and continuous education (webinars, courses, conferences) in complementarity with the « Centre national d’excellence en santé mentale ». The SWEPP (Swiss Early Psychosis Project) network has organized sessions of training and an annual conference on early intervention. Conclusion: In addition to pursuing local efforts, a French speaking branch of IEPA, was recently launched to join forces at a wider scale, in a partnership based on a common language. The aims are to promote networking, exchange practices, share tools and expertise and organize a yearly international francophone early intervention for psychosis conference, where clinicians who do not speak English could improve their knowledge about practices developed elsewhere.
Topic Area: Service System Development and Reform