The first book for non-specialists on how to detect and respond to potentially psychotic individuals
High-profile incidents of violence perpetrated by individuals who were found to have profound mental illness but had no history of dangerous behaviors – the Virginia Tech and Sandy Hook shootings, for example – often lead to the question: “What could have been done to help this person and prevent their violent actions?” This concise, accessible guide for helping professionals not trained in psychiatric health is a quick reference for identifying and intervening with a person experiencing a first psychotic episode. It guides non-medical helping professionals in how to identify a possible psychotic episode, how to interact compassionately and effectively with the individual, and how to make appropriate referrals toward receiving proper treatment.
Free of jargon and unfamiliar medical terminology, this how-to resource offers clear guidelines for detecting possible psychosis, advice on how to provide immediate care for the at-risk individual, and specific actions to take depending on the severity of the crisis. With a focus on adolescents and young adults—the most “at-risk” population for initial psychotic episodes—the book offers quick-access information for a wide range of professionals in educational and community health settings, including school personnel, counselors, social workers, primary. Also included is a brief review of research supporting early intervention strategies. The resource is valuable as a desk reference for immediate access to information or can be read from start to finish to increase knowledge and preparedness for a variety of situations.
Key Features:
Addresses a critical need for early identification of individuals who are experiencing a first psychotic episode and describes how to help them
Presents information clearly, succinctly and accessibly for non-specialists
Stresses the need to make appropriate referrals to qualified individuals
Written for a wide range of helping and other professionals in educational and community settings
Authored by professionals highly experienced in working with individuals with psychosis