First Episode Psychosis (FEP) Programs

First Episode Psychosis (FEP) programs treat psychosis, which affects about 3 out of 100 people at some point in their lives.  Psychosis involves loss of contact with reality, such as hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that others do not) or delusions (beliefs that are not based in reality).   Symptoms of psychosis can also include speech that does not make sense, difficulty thinking clearly, lack of self-care, withdrawal and odd or inappropriate behavior.  With early treatment, some people never have another psychotic episode.  For others, psychosis may be a recurring symptom of schizophrenia or another mental illness.  However, even if they continue to experience symptoms, early treatment provides a foundation for recovery and a full life.

Research has shown that, like cancer, schizophrenia develops in stages.  Providing care at the earliest possible stage produces the best results.  Too often, though, crises occur before people receive care.  In the U.S., there is an average delay of 74 weeks from the time a person first experiences psychosis to when he or she receives treatment.  Other countries have cut that delay to just 2 to 7 weeks. In order to achieve the promise of early intervention, it is vital to expand FEP programs and reduce the time from first psychosis to effective care.

FEP programs often provide services for younger individuals between the ages of 15-35 years old.

For additional information on the FEP program in your area, please refer to the information and links below.  Here is a list of First Episode Psychosis (FEP) Programs in the areas NAMI Greater Wheeling serves:

Quiet Minds – serves Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel and Tyler counties in West Virginia

Website – Quiet Minds

Phone # – 1-800-977-8918

AllWell Behavioral Health Services – located in Guernsey and Noble counties in Ohio

Website – AllWell

Phone # – 740-454-9766

Alta Behavioral Health – located in Mahoning county in Ohio

Webiste – Alta

Phone # – 330-793-2487