Canadian Psychiatric Association Foundation

Psychosis 101:Psychosis 101:evaluation of a training program

for northern and remote youth for northern and remote youth mental health service providers

Chiachen Cheng1,2,3

Andrew Howlett4Wayne de Ruiter2

Mark Hanson4

1. Canadian Mental Health Association, Thunder Bay Branch

2. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health3. St. Joseph’s Care Group, Thunder Bay

Carolyn S. Dewa2, 4p p, y

4. University of Toronto

OutlineOutlineOutlineOutline

What is EPI?What is EPI?Relevance of training in EPI (in NWO)Training Program & EvaluationTraining Program & EvaluationResults

ParticipantsParticipantsKnowledge AcquisitionEngagementg g

Lessons Learned

What is EPI?What is EPI?What is EPI?What is EPI?

EPI (early psychosis intervention) developed in ( y p y ) pearly 1990’s in Australia, UKEPI is person and family centeredEPI is specialized assessment, medical treatment, education, family support and psychosocial rehabilitationpsychosocial rehabilitation

based on research about what works best to help people recover from psychosis

EPI is founded on the principles of hope and recoveryO EPI i NW i t Fi t PlOne EPI program in NW is at First Place

Northwestern OntarioNorthwestern OntarioNorthwestern OntarioNorthwestern Ontariosize of France (525 193 k 2)(525,193 km2)45 % of Ontario’s landmasslandmass 2% of Ontario’s populationpopulation~250,000 people0 6/km20.6/km2

Relevance of training in EPIRelevance of training in EPIRelevance of training in EPIRelevance of training in EPI

Goals of EPI is to:Goals of EPI is to:Help youth reclaim livesTo eliminate need for long-term mental health gservices/psychiatryIncrease capacity among non-EPI specialistsK th i th i itiKeep youth in their communities

in NWO, need to rely on more than primary careDiff t d l f t i i th th iDifferent model for training other than morning or lunch time rounds

Evaluation ProjectEvaluation ProjectEvaluation ProjectEvaluation Project

Goal:To evaluate the effectiveness of EPI training using video vs in-person comparisonTo increase the capacity of MHW to identify early

h i dpsychosis and access careTo increase awareness of and access to EPI services

Intervention:Training program specifically for MCYS funded youth mental health service providers

Funders: Canadian Psychiatric Association Foundation Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health

TrainingTraining PProgram & Evaluationrogram & EvaluationTrainingTraining PProgram & Evaluationrogram & Evaluation

QUANTITATIVE DATAQUANTITATIVE DATA

ParticipantsParticipantsParticipantsParticipants

ParticipantParticipant comfort level comfort level ith h iith h iwith psychosiswith psychosis

KKnowledge nowledge AAcquisitioncquisition

KKnowledge nowledge AAcquisitioncquisition

Referrals from Participating Referrals from Participating AAgenciesgenciesReferrals from Participating Referrals from Participating AAgenciesgencies

# R f l# Referrals# referrals #accepted

8

2

2010/11 2011/12

2

2010/11 2011/12

QUALITATIVE DATA

Emerging ThemesEmerging ThemesEmerging ThemesEmerging Themes

1. Growing concern for the Youth population in1. Growing concern for the Youth population in NWO

2. Workshop helped to strengthen professional relationships within agencies and between p gagencies

3. The evaluation piece was novel and enhanced learning experience

Growing Growing CConcerns for Youth Populationoncerns for Youth PopulationGrowing Growing CConcerns for Youth Populationoncerns for Youth Population

“There are certain little cliques or groups in theThere are certain little cliques or groups in the schools, there might only be two or three. If you don’t fit into that, there’s nothing else to compare yourself to.”

“Early focus on the use of drugs and alcohol as a social activity”

Strengthening RelationshipsStrengthening RelationshipsStrengthening RelationshipsStrengthening Relationships

“As a worker, it gives you more confidence inAs a worker, it gives you more confidence in being able to assist somebody and knowing that you’re not alone in this.”

“Now we can call First Place and be involved, so this has strengthened our connection with them.”

“And it’s nice for team building too, to get away and do something different.”

Evaluation was Novel and ImportantEvaluation was Novel and ImportantEvaluation was Novel and ImportantEvaluation was Novel and Important

“Are we actually qualified?” “Sure we are. I thinkAre we actually qualified? Sure we are. I think it’s cool to offer our opinion and feedback.”

“What I found was nice, was [that] we were invested in our learning. But with the evaluations gand the follow-up…lets you know that you guys were invested with our learning as well.”

MOVING FORWARDMOVING FORWARD…

Lessons LearnedLessons LearnedLessons LearnedLessons Learned

Service providers are eager for any trainingService providers are eager for any trainingVideoconference as effective as on-siteKnowledge acquisition not significantly changedKnowledge acquisition not significantly changedAccuracy of referrals improvedEvaluation may be key for knowledge retentionEvaluation may be key for knowledge retentionTraining is vital to collaboration/partnerships across mental health service providersacross mental health service providersImproved relationships may lead to increased capacitycapacity

A k l d tA k l d tCanadian Psychiatric Association

Foundation

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

ParticipantsParticipants Co-authors

Andrew HowlettWayne deRuiterWayne deRuiterMark HansonCarolyn S. Dewa

F dFundersCanadian Psychiatric Association Foundation Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental H lthHealth

CMHAMaurice Fortin (Executive Director)