MIDLAND PermiaCare, the Local Mental Health Authority serving 27,000 square miles in West Texas, recently implemented a new evidence-based program to help people between 15 and 30 years old who suffer from psychosis.
Chris Barnhill, Chief Executive Officer said in a news release, “We are excited to bring a Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis program to the Permian Basin, making use of the $4.2M investment in Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) provided by the Texas legislature during the 88th legislative session. PermiaCare exists to bring programs like Coordinated Specialty Care into the communities we serve through the leveraging of state and federal funding and nothing excites us more than to see these opportunities become a reality.”
In 2014, federal legislative funds were distributed for first episode psychosis treatment programs across the country. Psychosis refers to a collection of symptoms that affect the mind, where there has been some loss of contact with reality. During an episode of psychosis, a person’s thoughts and perceptions are disrupted and they may have difficulty recognizing what is real and what is not.
There are approximately 100,000 adolescents and young adults each year who experience their first episode of psychosis between around 15 and 25 years old, which often leads the individual and the family feeling confused, frightened, and unsure what has happened or where to get help. Over the past two decades research has been able to support that early intervention through CSC programs lessen an individual’s time to recovery from initial onset of psychosis and improve functioning within self, family, and the community.
Today, the CSC program remains an evidence-based, recovery-oriented system of care that promotes engagement in day-to-day activities as soon as possible for individuals learning to live with mental illness after experiencing an episode of psychosis. The program works with individuals to help assist them with employment, school participation, volunteering, and improving symptoms and quality of life. The program encourages family involvement to help provide a better understanding of mental illness while hopefully lessening the stress on the individual and the family. PermiaCare’s program will include staff with multiple specialties working as one team to help the individual recover. These staff include psychiatrists, nurses, case managers, family partners, peer support, and counselors with specific training around psychosis.
The ultimate goal is to provide early intervention to help delay or prevent the onset of chronic and disabling psychosis which often makes it challenging for individuals to work, develop meaningful relationships, and reach their recovery goals.
“I am extremely excited for the opening of the Coordinated Specialty Care program. This innovative program is greatly needed in the communities served by PermiaCare. In the 25 years I have been practicing in West Texas, the population this program serves has been one of the hardest to treat successfully because after a first or early onset episode of psychosis, patients are at great risk to experience deterioration and loss of functioning unless they are compliant with medications throughout their lifetime,” Dr. Roddy Strobel, PermiaCare’s Medical Director said in the release. “The CSC team will be able to provide support to patients and their families to ensure medication compliance as well as education about the disease process. Understanding the biological nature of psychosis is key to helping patients and their families embrace and remain compliant with treatment. The recipients of this program will benefit greatly from the support of the team members and will experience fewer hospitalizations and decreased loss of functioning over their lifetime. The program is a game changer for patients aged 15 to 30 years old. I am proud to be the Medical Director of PermiaCare and its many new innovative programs.”
PermiaCare’s mission is to enhance the behavioral and developmental health and wellness of our community by helping people live their best lives. Having served the Permian Basin for over 50 years, PermiaCare is the largest and most experienced provider in the region. For more information, visit www.permiacare.org.
If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call the PermiaCare 24/7 crisis hotline at 1-844-420-3964 or call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In life-threatening situations, call 911.
