Psychosis treatment now available for young teens on the NHS in West London

BY OWEN SHEPPARD
Local Democracy Reporter
yann@slpmedia.co.uk

Children as young as 14 are now eligible for psychosis treatment on the NHS in west London.

To make this possible, the treatment centres in Hammersmith – along with ones in Isleworth and Hanwell – have expanded their Early Intervention for Psychosis (EIP) services.

Patients aged between 14 and 45 now have access to the service that was until recently limited to 18 to 35-year-olds.

The decision is based on findings that many in their early teens are potentially in need of help, as well as adults.

Hearing voices, panic attacks and hallucinating visions, tastes and sounds are among the common symptoms of psychosis, according to the NHS – and about 100,000 people in Britain receive treatment for it every year.

Other symptoms listed by the NHS include believing things that do not appear to be true or based on reality, believing an organisation or individual is planning to cause them harm and thinking they have unusual or special powers or abilities.

The service aims to tackle mental health problems after a patient’s “first episode” of psychosis.

Dr Bradley Platt, manager of EIP, said: “Psychosis can be a debilitating and frightening experience for people as well as their friends and family members.

In our Early Intervention teams, we ensure that we share the ethos that
psychosis is treatable.

“The provision of individually tailored and evidence-based interventions help those affected by psychosis achieve improved outcomes and allows individuals to better meet their personal recovery goals.

“With the right treatment, people go on to lead fulfilled and productive lives.”

NHS centres providing the service include the Claybrook centre at Charing Cross Hospital in Hammersmith as well as the Lakeside Mental Health Unit in Isleworth, and Cherington House, Hanwell.

Visit www.westlondon.nhs.uk/service/early-intervention for more information.