Welcome to the Eary Intervention Psychosis website, in here you will find information on a range of topics that you may find helpful if you or someone close to you may be experiencing psychosis
The BDCT Early Intervention Psychosis service covers the Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven localities, supporting individuals between the ages of 14-65 who may be experiencing a First Episode of Psychosis or are at increased risk of developing psychosis.
The service is made up of a number of teams which include a Young peoples focussed service working with people aged 14-18.
The adult service works with people between the ages of 17.5 and 65, we have a central assessment team located at Culture Fusion in the centre of Bradford offering the first point of contact with EIP. Alongside this team there are three locality teams, information on where these teams are based is below.
We work closely with people and their families to help them understand what’s happening, manage the challenges, and move forward with their lives. Our goal is to support recovery and help individuals get back to doing the things that matter most to them.
We provide a safe and supportive space to talk, explore experiences, and build confidence. Our team can help with managing stress, understanding medication, and navigating practical issues such as education, employment, housing, and benefits.
Our multidisciplinary team includes professionals from mental health nursing, social work, occupational therapy, psychology, psychiatry, pharmacy, peer support, therapy, support workers and employment specialists, all working together to provide tailored support.
We also offer a service for people aged 14-35, called Future Focus, for those who may be at risk of developing psychosis, or have an immediate family member (parent, sibling, child) with psychosis and would like support for themselves.
What is Psychosis?
Psychosis can be a collection of mental health experiences that can include the following;
unusual or distressing beliefs
hearing, seeing, feeling, or sensing things that no one else can
having suspicious or paranoid thoughts
having jumbled up or confused thoughts
For the individual experiencing psychosis it can be distressing and have a significant impact on daily life and relationships. However, with the right sort of help and support, recovery is expected, and people experiencing psychosis can go on to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives.
people with Psychosis can be expected to recover and live fulfilling lives.
How to access
If you have any concerns that you or someone you know may be experiencing a First Episode of psychosis, you can contact the Early Intervention Assessment Hub direct on 01274 221 021 between the hours of 9-5pm Monday to Friday.
For urgent mental health support and out of hours contact First Response. First Response offer crisis support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Contact can be made by calling 0800 952 1111, First Response can also be contacted by calling 111 and selecting the mental health option.
Anyone can refer to EIP, we welcome self-referrals or, with your consent, referrals from; family, friends, GP, nurses, visitors, social workers, teachers, and youth workers. All referrals would come through to our Assessment Team who would speak with you on the phone about the main problems and make sure we’re the right team for you. if we can help, the next steps could be;
To offer to meet in a place where you feel comfortable
We would speak with you about confidentiality and consent
To get to know you more so we can understand your experiences
To get to know the important people in your life and offer them support if needed
To work with you to find out what might be helpful
Following your appointment we will make recommendations for support, the options may include offering you support and care through our EIP Recovery team or Future Focus team. Where a persons needs are not related to psychosis and the services offered by the early intervention teams, other local services if seen to support a persons needs will be recommended.
How to find us
We are based at Culture Fusion in Bradford.
The assessment and Future Focus team are based at Culture Fusion. Culture Fusion Building, 125 Thornton Rd, Bradford, BD1 2EP
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Bradford City EIP Team - Level 3, Horton Park Centre, Horton Park Avenue, Bradford, BD7 3EG.
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Bradford District EIP Recovery Team - 10-16 St Martin’s Avenue, Fieldhead Business Park, Bradford
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Aire-Wharfe & Craven EIP Recovery Team - Meridian House, Bradford Road, Keighley, BD21 4AD.
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Contact
Under 18’s (CAMHS) – 01274 723241
Over 18’s (Early Intervention Hub) – 01274 221021
The offices are open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm, excluding Bank Holidays.
Use the tabs below to explore this section further.
Human stories
It can be helpful for others to hear the stories of people who have used our service. It can offer a sense of belonging and help people see they are not alone. This can also help us as a service work on the things we may need to improve on.
Please use the slider below to scroll through our most recent stories, we update these on a regular basis.
I would describe my psychosis like a pendulum. Sometimes I was enjoying the experience, feeling a rush of dopamine after every thought that I heard. Other times I was stuck in my own personal hell, hearing thoughts of terror accompanied with physical pain
Tom
'My experience with the EIP service
When you’re at a stage where you need the early intervention in psychosis team, there’s no doubt you’ll be scared and have lots of questions...
The support you get from EIP is extremely varied and can be tailored to your needs and interests. I was also helped by the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) team.
Following your assessment, you will be allocated to a Recovery teams close to you, based on your GP locality. We have bases in;
Horton Park
Meridian House
Fieldhead House
Once in the Recovery team, you will be allocated a Care Coordinator who can work with you for upto 3 years. Your Care Coordinator will work with you to create a Care and Safety Plan – this will identify your strengths, goals, and how we can support to overcome challenges.
You will have access to;
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis (CBT-p) – CBT-p is a talking therapy focused on understanding your problems and working towards goals. You and your therapist will work together to have a clear picture of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, that may leave you feeling stuck and find supportive ways forward. Sessions usually take place weekly and can go from 6 to 20 sessions.
Systemic Family Therapy – This is structured therapy which includes family and carers that looks at wider systems and relationships. The aim is to help you work together as a team towards recovery. This can be done with or without 1-1 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Everyone within the Recovery team is offered a physical health check. This can carried out in variety of local clinics across Bradford or at home if this is more comfortable. These checks support better physical health and wellbeing, this can have a positive impact on mental health recovery.
The physical health check will include;
Check cholesterol
Blood pressure
Height and weight
Smoking cessation support
Blood checks and ECGs to support with safe medication prescribing
For many people using medication can be an important part of their recovery. In the Recovery Team you will have see a Specialist Consultant Psychiatrist who will work with you to understand your difficulties and advise on the most helpful medication. If you decide to take medication you will have regular reviews to check on progress and wellbeing.
Typical medications that might be helpful include
Antipsychotic medication to help manage experiences like hallucinations, delusions, confusion, and anxiety. They may not get rid of symptoms completely but can make them more manageable.
Antidepressant medication, these can be effective in managing symptoms of low mood and anxiety.
Short-term medications, these can be prescribed to help with sleep and anxiety.
For more information, please visit;
As a service, we can support you to access work, education, training, or vocational opportunities. You Care Coordinator can support you directly or link you in with voluntary or NHS services.
If you are motivated to access paid employment, you Care Coordinator can refer you to the Individual Placement and Support (IPS).
IPS offers intensive, individually tailored support to help people to choose and find the right job, with ongoing support for the employer and employee to help ensure the person keeps their job.
IPS uses a personalised and strength-based approach to support people to find a job of their choosing.
IPS aims to help people find paid jobs within just weeks of being referred to the service.
Then it continues to work with both employer and employee to sustain the job placement for as long as possible, or to help the client into a different job.
IPS directly tackles the lack of integration of healthcare and employment services and the disconnection of different specialists by integrating employment specialists into health teams
The Recovery Team offer a wide range of support to help you connect with old and new skills and interests. Your Care Coordinator can also support you with practical challenges, like budgeting, housing, and family support.
Here is just a snapshot of what is on offer;
Activity Groups – join people with similar interests and get involved with the Games Group, Badminton Group, or Walking Group to name a few!
Service User Involvement Groups – if you’re interested in feedback back your ideas and shaping service delivery, please click here for more information on our Service User Involvement Groups.
Support with finances, accessing benefits, housing, accessing Citizen’s Advice and linking in with specialist practical support for Asylum applications and immigration issues.
Working with the Local Authority where necessary, including Care Act Assessments, Capacity Assessments, support with Safeguarding
Psychosis can have a big impact on relationships with friends and family. We can offer flexible support to strengthen relationships and help others understand what you are going through and what might help.
When a loved one is affected by psychosis, it can be overwhelming. We offer a range of services to support not just the person receiving support, but also you as their support network.
We offer;
Assessment of family member needs – identifying local resources to make life easier
Family and Friends Groups – care coordinator can pass on full details of the groups
Family Intervention – support within your recovery team from trained professionals who understand psychosis and how to support families. You can ask for a meeting with someone from the team at any point to discuss this further. All families are different and unique; any support will be tailored to meet each families needs.
Individual Carer Support can be offered. Out whole team are skilled in carer support and we also have a worker with their own experience of caring. We will work alongside the carer, giving space to talk about their experiences and access any support that might be needed.
Systemic Family Therapy – this is a structured family therapy, for more information click here
Meet some of our staff
Stay well at home
Getting active
Exercise and fresh air boost both your mental and physical health. While some medications may make you feel more tired, moderate activity can actually lift your mood and well-being. Being active can:
Boost self-esteem
Help set and achieve goals
Improve your mood by triggering positive chemical changes in your brain
Some Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) teams offer reduced-rate gym memberships, with options like a gym buddy or personal trainer. Let us know if you’re interested.
Aim to be active daily, even in small ways
Try strength exercises twice a week to work major muscles
Include moderate exercise (150 minutes a week) or vigorous activity (75 minutes a week), like swimming or dancing
Break up long periods of sitting with light movement.
Eat well
A balanced diet is key to maintaining your physical and mental health, helping you stay at a healthy weight and avoid certain diseases.
Include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and lean meats. We can guide you with simple tips for a balanced diet and “5-a-day” goals.
The below links will take you to other websites for further information.
A lack of sleep affects your mood, focus, and overall mental health. A consistent sleep routine, relaxation time before bed, and a calm environment can help improve your rest.
Relax an hour before bed and turn off devices
Jot down any worries before bedtime.
Physical activity and a balanced diet can improve sleep quality.
The below links will take you to other websites for further information.
Our employment team uses the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model to help you find and sustain meaningful work based on your preferences and goals.
If finances are causing you stress, speak with your Care Coordinator for guidance. They can help connect you to resources for benefits, money management, and more.
For help with housing, your Care Coordinator or local social care team can discuss options, like assistance to remain in your current home or access to supported housing.
People are often referred to EIP because stressful events have impacted their mental health and daily life. We specialise in helping those who, within the last three years, have started experiencing psychosis, often related to trauma or extreme stress.
Psychosis is a set of treatable symptoms where you may perceive things differently from others. People experience it in unique ways—it can feel overwhelming and scary, but some find comfort or creativity in it. Psychosis may be brief, periodic, or a regular part of life. You’re not alone; about 3 in 100 people experience it at some point. Early help from the EIP team can make recovery much more likely.
No, a referral doesn’t necessarily mean you have psychosis. During the assessment, we’ll work with you to understand your experiences and determine what support will be best for you, this might be from us or other services.
Early signs: Psychosis often begins with gradual changes, which may include:
Difficulty concentrating
Suspicion or unease around others
Less self-care or hygiene
Strong, unusual emotions or emotional numbness
Main symptoms:
Hallucinations: Sensing things that aren’t there (seeing, hearing, or feeling something others don’t)
Delusions: Strong, unusual beliefs that feel very real
Confused Thoughts: Rapid, disorganized speech or loss of train of thought
Causes vary and may include stress, lack of sleep, medical conditions, certain medications, or substance use. Psychosis can also be linked to mental illnesses like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Dopamine, a brain chemical, plays a role in psychosis symptoms, influencing how we perceive significance.
For relatives/carers
Families and friends play a crucial role in supporting loved ones experiencing psychosis, helping them recover in ways that complement clinical care. Nearly half of individuals with mental health challenges live with family, making this support system incredibly valuable. Here’s how we can help you support your loved one while ensuring you feel supported too.
When a loved one is affected by psychosis, it can be overwhelming. We offer a range of services to support not just the individual but also you as their support network.
Flexible support options: You can choose from a variety of support options tailored to meet your specific needs, including family meetings, therapy, and group activities.
Collaborative approach: We partner with you, valuing your insights and helping you build a supportive environment that benefits everyone.
Safe, non-judgmental spaces: We don’t judge or blame. Instead, we listen and offer guidance to help you navigate this challenging time.
Family and network meetings: These sessions are a space for open communication, where families can discuss challenges, problem-solve together, and access helpful information.
Systemic family therapy: Sessions with a therapist focused on family dynamics, helping all voices be heard and promoting a healthy, supportive environment.
Support groups: Connecting with others facing similar challenges can be incredibly empowering and supportive. These group activities are tailored to meet the needs of families and friends.
Family-only support groups: Regular groups let you connect with others who understand the journey, providing a sense of community.
Crisis support: In challenging times, extra support is available for family members. Contact your care coordinator if you feel additional guidance would help.
If you’re regularly caring for someone with mental health needs, a free carer’s assessment can identify resources to make your life easier, from transportation help to stress relief support. This is separate from the assessment your loved one may receive and can provide you with guidance, community support, and even financial advice.
Supporting someone with psychosis can be difficult, but here are some helpful steps:
Learn about psychosis: Understanding psychosis can help you empathize and provide more effective support.
Encourage professional help: Gently suggest talking to a mental health professional, especially for challenges your loved one is aware of, like sleep or anxiety.
Be patient and listen without judgment: Psychosis can be confusing and distressing; creating a safe, judgment-free space is key.
Maintain structure: Routines can provide stability. Help with small tasks and encourage healthy habits when possible.
Identify triggers: Working together to pinpoint and manage stressors can help prevent episodes.
Prepare for crises: Collaborate on a crisis plan so that both of you know what to do in challenging moments.
Supporting someone with psychosis can be emotionally demanding. It’s essential to prioritize your own well-being and seek support, whether through a support group or resources like the below.
For more information, resources, and guidance tailored to your situation, please explore Mind’s Resources and POPS Support.
