Psychosis Factsheet
A useful info-graphic explaining psychosis, from Headspace in Australia
What is psychosis?
Psychosis impacts on the way a person understands their reality, such as seeing, hearing or believing things that others don’t. When people experience these symptoms, mental health professionals say they are having a psychotic episode. Psychotic episodes can vary in length, they can last for a few days, can continue indefinitely until they are treated or they can come and go.
A first episode of psychosis often happens in late adolescence or young adulthood. It can be very frightening but it’s important to remember that psychosis can be treated. It’s best to get advice and treatment early, as soon as people start experiencing symptoms.
What causes psychosis?
There is no one cause of psychosis. It can be a symptom of a serious mental health problems such as biploar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorder or severe depression. It can also be triggered by using recreational drugs, a side effect of some prescription medications, or from experiencing trauma, abuse, extreme stress or lack of sleep. Sometimes psychosis runs in families and is thought to have a genetic link.
How do I know if I have psychosis?
Psychosis isn’t a very common and just because you experience some of the signs below doesn’t mean you definitely have psychosis. Only trained professionals can make a diagnosis so if you are worried then see your GP as soon as possible.
Signs of psychosis:
What helps?
If you are worried that you or someone else is experiencing symptoms of psychosis it is important to get professional help as soon as possible. Psychosis is a treatable condition, but is unlikely to go away by itself without treatment.
Treatment for psychosis might include information and education about the condition and how to manage symptoms, counselling or therapy such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), and medication. Medication can be very effective in treating psychosis. You should check out Headmeds for more information about antipsychotic medications.
How can I help myself?
Changes you can make yourself to help:
Who are they?
The CAMHS access team is the first point of contact for requests for help and where all referrals are triaged and allocated to the most appropriate service. The key philosophy is to ensure that the child or young person gets the right help at the right time and in the right place.
What services do they provide?
When are they open?
9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays)
Where?
New County Hall Treyew Road, Truro TR1 3AY Cornwall
How do I refer?
Cornwall CAMHS take referrals from any source, including parents or self-referrals. There is a referral form that is sent to a central multi-agency Hub based in County Hall in Truro. Each referral is carefully screened by a CAMHS clinician.For more information visit: cornwall.gov.uk/earlyhelp or call: 01872 322277
Who can be referred?
Children and young people who are aged pre-birth to 18. If a young person has a special educational need or disability, who have a need for early help care and support, this is extended up to age 25.
Who are they?
The Community CAMHS Teams.
What Mental Health conditions do they support?What services do they provide?
Children and young people who have completed an assessment with the service and meet the criteria can be offered intervention and/or specialist assessment within one of our care pathways by the Community CAMHS teams. These mainly describe the process of care within getting help although for some needs they extend into getting more help or describe the offer of advice and support from getting advice services.
When are they open?
9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays)
Where?
West (Kerrier): The Hive, Kernow Building, Wilson Way, Pool, TR15 3QE
West (Penwith): Bolitho House, Laregan Hill, Penzance, TR18 4NY
Mid (Restormal): Shaw House, Porthpean Road, St Austell, PL26 6AD
Mid (Carrick): Truro Health Park, Infirmary Hill, Truro, TR1 2JA
East (North East/ Bodmin): Launceston Integrated CAMHS and Children's Centre, Coronation Park, Launceston, PL15 9DQ
East (South East): 6A Heathlands Business Park, Liskeard, PL14 4DH
How do I refer?
Cornwall CAMHS take referrals from any source, including parents or self-referrals. There is a referral form that is sent to a central multi-agency Hub based in County Hall in Truro. Each referral is carefully screened by a CAMHS clinician.
For more information visit: cornwall.gov.uk/earlyhelp or call:
West (Kerrier): 01209 204000
West (Penwith): 01736 571070
Mid (Restormal): 01726 873292
Mid (Carrick): 01872 221446
East (North East/ Bodmin): 01566 761100
East (South East): 01579 373850
Who can be referred?
They accept referrals for children and young people up to the age of 18 years. This includes those with a learning disability and/or neuro–developmental disability who are registered with a GP based within Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
A referral that doesn’t meet the threshold for a specialist intervention, but the child has a moderate level of impairment can be allocated to the Primary Mental Health Team (PMHT). These workers are specialists in early interventions in mental health and will offer consultation and advice. They have some limited capacity to offer some solution focussed interventions.
Who are they?
The CAMHS Psychiatric Liaison Service.
What services do they provide?
The CAMHS Psychiatric Liaison Service provide assessment and intervention to young people who have been admitted to RCHT following self-harm/overdose, are in psychosocial crisis, or are experiencing (suspected) symptoms of acute mental illness; all referrals to the CAMHS Psychiatric Liaison Service come via RCHT staff via Bodmin Switchboard.
When are they open?
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Where?
IMPACT Hub(non-patient area) Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, Truro Cornwall TR1 3LJ
How do I refer?
All referrals to the CAMHS Psychiatric Liaison Service come via RCHT staff via Bodmin Switchboard (01208 251300).Who can be referred?
Children and young people who are aged pre-birth to 18. If a young person has a special educational need or disability, who have a need for early help care and support, this is extended up to age 25.
Myth: People with Psychosis are often violent or dangerous
Fact: While this is how psychosis is often portrayed in films and TV shows, actually people with psychosis are often very frightened and it is more likely that they will be the victim of violence or of harm to themselves than to anyone else.
Myth: A person with psychosis has a ‘split personality’
Fact: This is a myth created in popular culture. Having an episode of psychosis might mean that someone behaves strangely; sees, hears or smells that aren’t really there (Hullucinations); or has unusual beliefs and ideas about themselves or the world (delusions) which are sometimes very frightening and confusing. Psychosis is a treatable illness and it is important that prople are encouraged to get help as soon as possible.