First Episode Psychosis Webinar Series

Head made of puzzle pieces

 

Browse the Central East MHTTC catalog of First Episode Psychosis webinar recordings

Psychosis is a condition that disrupts a person’s thoughts and perceptions and makes it difficult for an individual to differentiate between what is real and what is not (National Institute of Mental Health. 2015. Fact sheet: First Episode Psychosis). Symptoms – which include delusions, hallucinations and disordered thoughts – typically first appear between the ages of 16 and 30. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, three out of 100 people will experience psychosis at some time in their lives.
 

Joseph DeLucaPresenter: Joseph S. DeLuca, Ph.D.
Joseph S. DeLuca, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at Fairfield University, and an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry (voluntary track) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (New York City). He specializes in psychosis-risk and the early stages of psychosis. His research and clinical interests include screening and treatment for psychosis-spectrum symptoms, particularly with youth and families, as well as stigma, the role of culture and context in psychosis, and the intersection of mental illness and the criminal justice system. Dr. DeLuca has presented Central East MHTTC-hosted webinars addressing First Episode Psychosis and mental health stigma since June 2020. He earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the City University of New York Graduate Center and completed his predoctoral internship at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. 
 

Advances in Mental Health Stigma Reduction (May 3, 2023)
This webinar covers the multifaceted nature of stigma (including stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, social exclusion, knowledge, etc.), as well as the most recent findings on the prevalence of mental health stigma and strategies to combat it. Additionally, it emphasizes community-based research (participatory) methodologies, intersectional stigma considerations, and explains how people can get involved in stigma-reduction initiatives. 

Psychoeducation and Psychosis (February 21, 2023)
Psychoeducation typically refers to the provision of mental health information (e.g., regarding diagnosis, treatment, prognosis) for patients and their families. Psychoeducation is one of the cornerstones of effective mental health care, particularly when it comes to psychosis (e.g., schizophrenia-spectrum disorders) since psychosis-spectrum experiences and related disorders are generally misunderstood and highly stigmatized. This webinar will review psychosis psychoeducation, including various models and approaches, as well as specific considerations for special populations (e.g., clinical high risk for psychosis, first-episode psychosis). 

Race-Based Stress and Psychosis (December 13, 2022)
This talk will explore the psychological distress associated with experiences of racism and how racism can cause or exacerbate psychosis-spectrum experiences. Race-based stress (also known as racial trauma) has been referred to as "psychological injury caused by hate or fear of a person due to their race, ethnicity, or skin color" (Williams et al., 2022, p.1; see also Carter, 2007, Comas-Díaz, 2016). In addition to conceptualizing and defining racial trauma, this presentation will also cover assessment and intervention tools for addressing race-based and other stigma-based stressors, especially for individuals who have psychosis-spectrum experiences.  

Psychosis-Risk Stigma (October 12, 2022)
Psychosis-risk experiences are common in the general population. They are as stigmatized as other health conditions such as depression (Lee et al., 2016; Wang et al., 2020). This presentation defines psychosis-risk, stigma, and psychosis-risk stigma; and reviews clinical, public/societal, and structural interventions for targeting psychosis-risk stigma.

Youth Mental Health Stigma (April 6, 2022) 
Youth-driven, intersectional efforts to reduce stigma are discussed in this webinar. 

Psychosis & Resilience (March 2, 2022)
Resilience work has grown in the psychosis field (e.g., people diagnosed with, or at risk for, schizophrenia-spectrum disorders) – with goals of helping individuals cope with distressing mental health experiences, stigma, etc. This webinar covers some of the recent advances in this field, including recommendations related to direct clinical care, provider burnout, advocacy, and research.

What is Psychosis-Risk? (January 12, 2022)
This presentation offers an introduction to the psychosis-risk period and broader psychosis spectrum, including discussion on the diversity of clinical presentations, screening/assessment tools and cultural considerations, evidence-based treatments, and specialized programs.

Early-Stage Psychosis "Basics": Screening and Referral (November 3, 2021)
Learn about the "basics" of early-stage psychosis screening and referral, including information on specific early warnings signs and symptoms of psychosis-risk and psychosis, how to provide evidence-based and culturally sensitive early-stage psychosis screening, and how and where to refer youth and families. This talk also provides practical tools and resources related to screening and referral.

Combating Early Psychosis Stigma (June 23, 2021)
This discussion covers using a multifaceted approach focusing on community members’ attitudes, and therapeutic support, to help those living with mental illness cope with and combat stigma. 

Telehealth for Early-Stage Psychosis: COVID-19 and Beyond (May 19, 2021)
This webinar examines telehealth considerations for youth in the early stages of psychosis. Related and complementary interventions for this group, including smartphone apps and other virtual interventions, are also reviewed.

Early Psychosis and the Justice System: Prevention and Intervention Strategies (April 21, 2021)
Youth in the early stages of psychosis have been a focus of early mental health intervention and justice involvement prevention. Research has found that criminal justice involvement for such youth is related to negative clinical and recovery outcomes. This discussion will focus on the unique needs of this population, the stigma that they face, and general prevention and intervention strategies.

Cultural Considerations in Early Psychosis Care (March 31, 2021)
This presentation highlights important cultural considerations (broadly defined) to integrate into early psychosis work, discuss how these factors have been addressed to date, offer practical suggestions, and propose next steps for the field.

Evidence-Based Early Psychosis Identification and Treatment (June 23, 2020)
This webinar provides information on specific early warning signs and symptoms of psychosis-risk and psychosis, how to provide evidence-based early psychosis assessment and treatment/referral, and current target populations and special considerations in early psychosis work.

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