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Recognizing Psychosis

Criminal Justice System Workers

Recognizing the symptoms early

Many of us come into contact with individuals who have undiagnosed/early psychosis in our everyday lives. Law enforcement may be called upon to respond to situations involving such individuals when others in the community report odd or unusual behavior. These behaviors may be characteristic of psychosis, but will seem strange to people unfamiliar with these experiences.

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Criminal justice and mental illness

While we at HeadsUp support clinical intervention at the earliest possible point by providing mental health services to individuals through approachable and convenient avenues, we recognize the systematic limitations of these efforts. Some young people experiencing psychosis will engage with the criminal justice system before, or even during, their course of treatment. We therefore encourage law enforcement to learn about psychosis and strategies to de-escalate situations involving individuals experiencing psychosis.

Understanding psychosis

Psychosis is a symptom or set of symptoms, not a disorder. The first time someone experiences an episode of psychosis can be confusing and distressing. Behavioral and emotional changes associated with psychosis can be concerning because of a lack of understanding about what’s happening. This lack of understanding often leads to a delay in seeking help, which means this treatable condition is sometimes left untreated.

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Understanding recovery

The path to appropriate treatment for a young person is not always linear, but as awareness and treatment options for early psychosis continue to grow, we can work together to streamline connections to the best treatment as early as possible. As with most issues, the earlier someone gets help, the better.

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Criminal justice and early psychosis

There are many opportunities for the criminal justice system to assist in connecting young people potentially experiencing their first episode of psychosis to the most effective care early on. Intervention at any point of the engagement process can help individuals with a mental illness bypass the potential trauma of involvement with the criminal justice system.

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Resources for Law Enforcement

HeadsUp Animated “What is Psychosis Video”

A simple, short educational video to use and share.

"What is Psychosis?" Video