Welcome!

Welcome to the Early Psychosis Intervention Training Program. The Fraser South Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) Program is excited that you have joined us in the worldwide movement towards early intervention in psychosis. Funded and supported by British Columbia’s Ministry of Children and Family Development and Fraser Health, we are pleased to offer this training opportunity as a method of promoting effective care for young people and their families living with early psychosis.

This EPI Training Program is an online training program designed for Mental Health Clinicians and Physicians to enhance their knowledge and skills in order to provide evidence-based early intervention in psychosis. This training was developed through the combined efforts of the Fraser South Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) Program, several local experts in early psychosis, and a number of clients and families. The best practices and principles of care referred to within this course are adapted from the Fraser South EPI Program's Service and Clinical Guidelines.

Early intervention in psychosis involves early detection and treatment of first-episode psychosis; sustained intensive treatment during the early years or 'critical period' in the course of a psychotic disorder; and early detection and treatment of psychotic relapses. Emerging evidence suggests that the benefits of early intervention include improvement in client outcomes and in both short and long term prognoses, and reduction of immediate suffering and danger, as well as the negative impacts often associated with mental illness. The hopeful message of early intervention is that psychosis is a treatable condition and recovery is expected.

It is anticipated that clinicians and physicians who successfully complete this training will be able to:

• Understand and apply the principles guiding early intervention efforts
  
  
• Partner with early psychosis clients and families throughout the process of care
  
  
• Demonstrate proficiency in performing ongoing comprehensive assessments for early psychosis
  
  
• Provide education and psychosocial/pharmacological interventions that are consistent with best practices for early psychosis

The training modules can be accessed only by persons registered in the training program – please see below contact information for details on how to register.

Training for Mental Health Clinicians
The training course for mental health clinicians consists of ten online modules and is appropriate for clinicians who provide direct mental health care (assessment, treatment, case management) to adolescents or young adults.  A brief assignment is to be submitted at the end of each module.  Clinicians working  with MCFD and Fraser Health in British Columbia (BC) will also be required to attend a two-day in-person training in at the Fraser South EPI Program in White Rock, BC.  This two-day in-person training may also be made available as an option for mental health clinicians in other regions.

For more information about the course, including registration, dates of training and associated fees, please contact:

Clinicians with MCFD in BC:  
Michele Maurer at Michele.Maurer@fraserhealth.ca

All other clinicians (Health in BC and other provinces):  Nina Krack at Christina.Krack@fraserhealth.ca

Training for Physicians
The training course for physicians consists of seven online modules and is appropriate for family physicians and psychiatrists who wish to learn more about best practice care for early psychosis.  The course work consists entirely of independent study – there are no assignments nor is there any in-person training.

This course has been accredited for one Mainpro-M1 credit per hour to a maximum of seven Mainpro-M1 credits.

For more information about the course, including registration and associated fees, interested physicians should contact:  Nina Krack at Christina.Krack@fraserhealth.ca

About the Fraser South EPI Program
The Fraser South EPI Program has developed a community-based model of mental health service delivery representing a collaborative approach between child and youth, and adult mental health service providers and their clients. As our program evolves we are committed to improving clinical practice in the area of early intervention and research. For a detailed description of the Fraser South EPI model follow the links:

Read our core statements here.

Read about the EPI Program here.

For more information on the South Fraser EPI program, go to our website located at: http://www.earylypsychosisintervention.ca