Launch of Early Intervention in Psychosis resources to support good physical health
8 January 2025
A suite of new resources has been launched by the national Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) programme to support young people experiencing psychosis to manage their physical health.
Healthcare professionals can use the ‘Series Three’ suite of physical health tools and resources to support young people experiencing psychosis with their physical health. The resources will also be made available to wider audiences wishing to hear more about the physical health screening and interventions available to people receiving care from EIP services in Wales.
The new resources were launched at an event held to recognise and share work undertaken by EIP services across Wales to improve the support offered to people experiencing psychosis, reduce inpatient admissions and patient length of stay.
A range of speakers explained why physical health needs to be a priority for EIP and mental health services, highlighting opportunities for further developments and improvements.
Sally Prichard, Aneurin Bevan UHB, and Rhian Downs, Hywel Dda UHB, leads for the physical health workstream, showcased the work of the national programme which includes developing the suite of materials that support young people and the EIP workforce with implementing interventions that offer robust approaches to improving physical health.
Sally and Rhian also discussed the LEAP (Lifestyle Education to Achieve Potential) programme as a core component of the EIP offer, highlighting the link between physical health and mental wellbeing.
Dr Sheila Hardy, Practice Nurse Educator, Charlie Waller Trust discussed the importance of prevention over cure and “guiding a person in a slow measured way” to promote a culture of good physical health for people with mental health conditions.
Dr Hardy highlighted the responsibility on all practitioners to promote a physical health discussion and interventions for the young person.
Dr David Shiers, carer, former GP and joint lead of England's National Early Intervention in Psychosis Programme (2004-2010) held an interesting Q&A session about his experience as a carer for his daughter and their family’s fight for care and treatment that encouraged good physical health and well-being.
The final presentation of the day focused on the EIP Adventure Therapy programme and the opportunities for physical health promotion.
EIP services across Wales have worked in partnership with third sector organisations to develop and deliver a national adventure therapy programme, encouraging people experiencing psychosis to participate in experience-based initiatives to improve their wellbeing and recovery.
Michaela Morris, Service Improvement Manager for Mental Health, NHS Wales Executive, said; “EIP services across Wales have worked for several years to fully understand the role physical health has in improving the long-term life chances a person should have.
“The EIP workforce has been on a learning journey which has resulted in increasing skills as practitioners and developed an exceptional set of resources that will benefit the young person’s physical health, and their families understanding of how important this is for their loved one.
“Thank you to all the EIP services for working in collaboration and coproduction in developing this national work.”
All resources will be available on the new Psychosis Wales website which is due to be launched next month.
For more information contact Katie.Cole@wales.nhs.uk