Early Psychosis Intervention: A Co-Designed Introduction to a Community Based EPI Team

Poster C48, Wednesday, October%2010, 11:30%20am%20-%201:00%20pm, Essex%20Ballroom

Tajman Grewal1, Karen O'Connor2; 1Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin, 2LOFT Community Services

Goal: To introduce and connect individuals in a meaningful way to the EPI team, peers and wellness as a critical concept in Recovery. The EPI Standards of Care (Ontario, Canada) identify developing coping strategies, developing resilience and establishing social relationships or connections as a key aspect of recovery. (EPI MOHLTC standards 2011). Process: Co-design programming alongside the people who will use it. Co-design gives voice to EPI clients through sharing their experiences and thoughts in a structured and safe process, enabling EPI services to be more tailored to needs of people in the service. Concept: Three times a year new and existing clients to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) Program attend Wellness Wednesday to (i) create a Wellness Toolkit. Components include a series of stations (crafts, puzzles, writing, painting, beading, music) and activities (ice-breakers, mindfulness, walks, helpful apps, team games) where clients rotate through stations building their Wellness Toolkit (ii) connect with peers (iii) meet EPI staff team members (iv) build confidence and comfort to participate and co-lead other EPI activities and (vi) engage family participation. Outcomes: It engages clients and families in other activities the EPI program holds throughout the year with an on-going calendar series of social activities such as snow-tubing, laser tag, hiking, cooking and picnics. This approach has resulted in clients meeting up on their own and starting their own groups such as a book club and writing group, in addition to increased coping skills and greater family satisfaction with service

Topic Area: Psychosocial Interventions

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