Are you or someone you know…
Seeing or hearing things that other people don’t, like shadows in the corner of your eyes?
Having unusual thoughts, like experiencing the TV, Internet, or music sending you special messages?
Having a lot more energy than usual and racing thoughts, so much that you can’t sleep for days?
Are these things bothering you or causing you to be concerned?
You may be experiencing symptoms of psychosis. Psychosis is a lot more common than you think. You are not alone.
Mental Health Partners has partnered with the Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA) to launch the ASCENT program, which provides holistic community-based treatment and support to youth and young adults who are experiencing troubling thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Designed to treat the individual rather than just the symptoms, ASCENT uses a series of specialized services to help individuals develop independence and maintain stability. This program is fully-funded, regardless of insurance.
Research has shown that clients who engage in intensive treatment within the first 24 months of their psychotic symptom onset have approximately 85% chance of recovery.
The path to getting help:
Inquiry
Contact us by phone to learn more about this fully-funded program. During inquiry and registration, our staff will ask you questions regarding your background, insurance, income and state of health. This first step may take 10-15 minutes, so it really helps to have all of your information ready before calling!
Assessment
After the initial referral and inquiry, you will be scheduled with an assessment clinician to complete intake. During this 2-hour appointment, we complete all of the necessary paperwork to enroll you. You will also be asked numerous questions about your issues and concerns to determine the best treatment program.
Referral
If the assessment clinician refers you to the ASCENT program, the Program Manager reviews the referral and possibly contacts the family, if appropriate. Once approved, the Program Manager works with the individual/family to get them set up (meet the team, schedule a psychiatry appointment, etc.) and begins working with them.
For Clinicians & Providers
Treating psychosis requires specialized training, knowledge, and expertise. Whether you are a mental health professional or medical provider, you may have reason to suspect that your client or patient is exhibiting psychotic symptoms. By referring the person to the ASCENT program and scheduling an assessment, we can help clarify whether psychosis is present and, if so, how it is affecting their functioning and what treatment may be needed. Based on this information, the individual and their loved ones will be able to make an informed decision about their treatment plan and goals.
For Parents & Concerned Adults
Is your student, child, or loved one possibly experiencing psychosis. Often, people with psychosis do not recognize that they have a problem. Rather, it is others in their lives who notice significant changes and encourage the person to get help – such as parents, teachers/educators, coaches, siblings, and family members. Since early treatment can have such a profound impact on mental health outcomes, parents and concerned adults should pay attention to the warning signs and reach out for help when a young person exhibits symptoms of psychosis.
For Young Adults & Teens
“Psychosis” is a broad term that covers many different symptoms and experiences. The truth is that anyone can develop psychosis. Lots of people see or hear things that others don’t, or have unusual ideas. Psychosis only becomes a problem when it is causing you significant distress or harm by affecting your relationships with friends and family, making it harder to go to school or work, or affects your mental health. Fortunately, with the right information, support and treatment, you can overcome it.
