From the Nova Scotia Early Psychosis Program (NSEPP)
website:
Because NSEPP is located in Halifax, within the largest of the Nova Scotia health regions; Capital Health, the program provides direct clinical services to residents of the Capital Health district.
Referrals to NSEPP can be made by anyone, including mental health care professionals, family physicians, community agencies, educators and school counselors, family members, friends and any young person who suspects they may be suffering from a first episode of psychosis.
Criteria for referral of individuals who reside in the Capital Health district are:
- Any individual between the ages of 15-35 who is suspected of experiencing or has been diagnosed with a first episode of psychosis, and
- Has been treated for less than 6 months with an anti-psychotic medication, and
- At the time of referral has had active, untreated psychosis for less than one year.
If you or someone you know meets these criteria please contact the NSEPP immediately at (902) 473-2976.
What can I expect if I refer someone who resides in the Capital Health district?
- The intake coordinator from NSEPP will usually contact the person making the referral within 1- 2 working days after NSEPP receives the referral. The purpose of this contact is to obtain information necessary to decide if the person being referred meets the criteria for the NSEPP program and to also determine the urgency of the referral.
- All information regarding new referrals is presented by the intake coordinator to the NSEPP multidisciplinary team at their weekly meeting. At that meeting the NSEPP team will determine if the individual referred meets the criteria for the NSEPP program. If a referral meets criteria, NSEPP endeavours to assess those individuals within 1-2 weeks.
- Priority for appointments for initial assessments will be determined by the NSEPP team based on their assessment of the degree of urgency.
- Urgent referrals are assessed, whenever possible, within 1-2 working days.
- The individual making the referral to the NSEPP will be notified of the date of the assessment appointment and, after the assessment is completed, will be notified of the outcome.
- If it is determined that an individual referred to NSEPP does not meet criteria for the program, the individual making the referral will be notified by the intake coordinator and will be provided with information regarding referral to other appropriate mental health services.
Under the provincial service delivery model developed by the Nova Scotia Department of Health and as one of the Dalhousie University Department of Psychiatry clinical academic programs, NSEPP provides clinical consultation for residents of the Maritime provinces who reside outside the Capital Health district.
Criteria for referral of individuals who reside in the Maritime Provinces outside of the Capital Health district:
- NSEPP only accepts referrals for consultation from health care professionals including any mental health care professional or family physician, and
- Any individual between the age of 15-35 who is experiencing early psychosis (within the first 5 years of the onset of psychosis), may be referred for a consultation regarding diagnosis and/or treatment.
NSEPP does not provide ongoing clinical services to individuals who reside outside of the Capital Health district.
What can I expect if I refer an individual who resides in the Maritime Provinces outside of the Capital Health district?
- The intake coordinator from NSEPP will usually contact the person making the referral within 1 week after NSEPP receives the referral. The purpose of this contact is to obtain more detailed information regarding the reasons for the referral for consultation from the NSEPP.
- All information regarding consultations is presented by the intake coordinator to the NSEPP multidisciplinary team at their weekly meeting. At that meeting the NSEPP team will determine if the consultation referral to NSEPP meets the program criteria for consultation from NSEPP.
- If a consultation referral meets the NSEPP criteria, the NSEPP endeavours to assess all individuals referred for a consultation within 4 weeks after NSEPP receives the referral
- The individual making the referral to the NSEPP will be notified of the date of the consultation appointment. Once the consultation is completed, the individual making the referral will receive a written report.
- If it is determined that an individual referred to NSEPP does not meet criteria for referral for a consultation from NSEPP the individual making the referral will be notified by the intake coordinator and will be provided with information regarding referral to other appropriate mental health services.
At this time, persons referred for a consultation with the NSEPP must be willing to travel to Halifax/Dartmouth Nova Scotia for an assessment
To make a referral for a consultation please contact (902) 473-2976.
Image credit
Also see:
Nova Scotia Early Psychosis Program -
Brochure
Nova Scotia Early Psychosis Program -
Website
Nova Scotia Early Psychosis Program -
Family Education (PDF)
Mending Minds
