• Information to help you through your experience of psychosis and support your recovery

About Us

  • Our Mission

    The South of England Early Intervention in Psychosis Programme (a.k.a Time4Recovery) brings together people who are passionate about improving the support available for people with psychosis and their families. Our mission is to:

    1. Work with people who have experience of first episode psychosis and their families to develop services that promote best possible outcomes;

    2. Foster professional attitudes that engender hope and optimism that people with psychosis can achieve meaningful and fulfilled lives;

    3. Combat stigma, discrimination and prejudice by raising awareness about psychosis and tackling factors that contribute to social exclusion;

    4. Ensure that functional outcomes such as access to education and employment are as equally important as a reduction in symptoms;

    5. Collaborate with partner agencies such as employers and housing providers, in a bid to achieve wider reaching positive influence and help more people with or at risk of developing psychosis.

  • What is Early Intervention in Psychosis?

    Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) services offer specialist and tailored treatment to people with a first episode psychosis. We aim to support in many ways to reduce the distress and problems associated with psychosis. Our aim is to enable people with psychosis to achieve all their hopes and ambitions and lead a fulfilling life. Our teams are made up of different health and social care professionals, who provide a range of treatment and support options.

    EIP offers access to a three-year community treatment team, where you will have a named care coordinator to meet with every week to start with to discuss treatments and help you in your recovery.

  • The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance, Implementing the Early Intervention in Psychosis Access and Waiting Time Standard, states that early treatment using evidence based intervention improves people’s prospects of recovery, education, employment and reduces the likelihood of them relapsing or taking their own life. We also know that early intervention in psychosis has is cost-effective. This comes from reduced inpatient costs and improvements in quality of life and employment status (page 15).

Who is the EIP team and who are the professionals who will work with me?

  • Psychiatrists…

    are medically qualified doctors who have specialised in mental health.

    Most psychiatrists, like the ones in EIP, work as part of the team with other members to try to get to know you, understand your needs and support your recovery. The psychiatrist will offer to see you at an out-patient clinic or at your home if that is where you feel most comfortable.

    The psychiatrist will either see you on their own or with another member of the team present and someone of your choice, such as a family member or friend. Psychiatrists are there to offer you information, advice and guidance on your illness and treatment options including therapy and medication. A psychiatrist is also able to prescribe medicines and give you information to help you decide on the best course of treatment, to promote earlier recovery.

    When meeting with the Early Intervention in Psychosis team, you might want to ask about:

    • How to make sense of your situation and experiences
    • Your care plan and how to get back on track
    • The available therapies and medication
    • What to do if your situation changes or in an emergency
    • Other support and help available through the EIP teams, local organisations and other networks.

  • Psychological therapists…

    are trained to support you and help you understand and to cope better with many kinds of problems, by using talking therapies.

    They can help you to move forward with your life in whatever ways are most important to you. They provide talking therapies that have a lot of evidence to support them, like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). They might also see you for individual therapy, family therapy and, sometimes, in therapy groups or workshops.

  • Care coordinators…

    are either a mental health nurse, occupational therapist, or social worker who will be the main point of contact for your health and social care needs.

    They will work collaboratively with you on a weekly-to-fortnightly basis initially to support you throughout your time in the service. A care coordinator will discuss your needs and goals and help you to make action plans (care plans) to meet these goals. They give the support you need to achieve them and will connect you with other professionals to tackle issues such as housing, finances, training, managing your mood or encouraging healthy routines. The aim is to assist you so that you can live as independent a life as possible and have the same opportunities as everyone else.

  • Peer and support workers…

    will support and empower you to continue building your life during or after an episode of psychosis.

    Peer Workers have a lived experience of overcoming the negative impact of psychosis. They meet with you and your family to work towards your goals to enhance your quality of life and enable you to continue moving forward with your life. These goals can be related to areas including, but not limited to: housing, benefits, socialising, physical health and wellbeing, education, hobbies, employment and volunteer work.