Early Psychosis Mental Health

The Early Psychosis Service provides ongoing community-based care to young people between 18 and 25 years old. We see people living in The Prince Charles Hospital and Royal Brisbane and Woman’s Hospital catchment area who are experiencing a first experience of psychosis. Our team provides early detection and intervention for young people experiencing psychosis through flexible therapeutic outreach and holistic care. We support the young person and their family through the recovery journey.

Our services

Our treating team is made up of a range of experienced mental health clinicians including psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health nurses, social workers and occupational therapists.

Our team seeks to support young people and their families to understand their mental illness and work with the young person to reduce and manage their symptoms.

The experience of psychosis is different for each person although can be characterized as a disruption to a person’s thoughts and perceptions that may cause difficulty understanding what is real and what isn’t. We understand the experience of Psychosis can be a challenging time for young people and their families or carers.

Our service offers evidence-based treatment, education and support aiming to give our young people individualised and recovery focused support and interventions based on their needs. We provide both one on one support and group support to enhance psychological and psychosocial wellbeing. We can connect you with various support agencies such as employment, social supports or alcohol and drug services.

The importance of families being involved in care is evident in research. Our team offers a program for family members called Strengthening Families. The program aims to provide an opportunity for family members to learn more about what is psychosis, how it is treated and the recovery journey.

How to access this service

You can self-refer to 1300 MH CALL (1300 64 22 55) where you will speak with a mental health clinician who can triage your presenting problem and determine the appropriate support and services. Family members or friends are also able to call 1300 MH CALL for advice on supporting a young person with mental health concerns. You can also visit your GP if you have concerns that you are experiencing psychosis, who can refer you through to the Acute Care Team for further assessment.

We will contact you within a week after receiving your referral. If your referral is accepted, we will provide more information about the service. A team member will meet with you to explain how the team works and what to expect from the service. It can be helpful to bring a family member or close friend with you to your initial appointments.

What to bring