Surrey | 160812
People experiencing psychosis will be better able to manage the symptoms and life altering effects of their condition using a new psychosis toolkit developed by the Ministry of Health and Fraser Health.
The toolkit, called Dealing with Psychosis: A toolkit for moving forward with your life, will empower people experiencing psychosis who are working to take control of their lives. Often considered a disruptive, confusing and frightening experience, psychosis affects a person’s ability to know what is real versus what is not. Further blurring the lines of reality, sufferers of psychosis typically experience hearing voices and having unusual thoughts. About 3% of all people will experience psychosis at some point in their lives. Development of such a resource counters widespread assumptions about the ability of individuals with psychosis to be active learners and managers of their own well-being.
Recognizing the importance of having support from family and friends in the treatment of psychosis, the toolkit encourages individuals to identify a “Support Person” who will assist them in their learning process. This person will “walk with” the client through the educational and coping strategies beneficial to recovery. Along with encouraging the support of a friend, family or health professional, the toolkit provides concrete, simple solutions for managing life. One example is using a calendar, or daily planner, to reduce stress and ensure a good balance of time for family, friends, recreation and relaxation – all important elements in dealing with, and avoiding future episodes of psychosis.
The toolkit was developed through a thorough review of the published research evidence, consultation with provincial experts in the area of early psychosis, and a Provincial Advisory Committee represented by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Children and Family Development, health authorities, and feedback from individuals with psychosis, family members, and clinicians.
Fraser Health is a proud leader of mental health research and treatment. By providing a wide range of integrated health services to the largest and fastest growing population in BC, Fraser Health is committed to improving the health and quality of life of over 1.6 million people living in communities from Burnaby to White Rock to Hope.