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New initiative will help patients receive swift, psychosis-informed care tailored to meet their needs

Each year, more than 1,100 young people in Massachusetts are diagnosed with psychosis— an often misunderstood and complex condition. With early intervention being critical to improving outcomes, it is essential that these individuals receive timely and effective care. To address this, The Brookline Center’s M-PATH program is launching a groundbreaking initiative to help primary care providers (PCPs) better identify and support young patients exhibiting symptoms of psychosis.

In partnership with the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers (MLCHC), which includes over 285 community health organizations across the state, the Community Health Center-Primary Care Provider (CHC-PCP) Early Psychosis Outreach Initiative aims to strengthen the ability of providers at CHCs, primary care practices, and pediatric practices across the state to support patients experiencing early psychosis. Seed funding for the initiative comes from the Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation and other private donors.

For many people, their PCP is a trusted partner and connector to community resources, making them well-positioned to identify, assess, and refer youth with early psychosis symptoms. However, many providers feel unprepared to effectively support individuals experiencing psychotic symptoms, leading to lags in receiving care and missed diagnoses.

Through specialized training, education, and ongoing consultation and support, the Early Psychosis Outreach Initiative will train CHC staff to identify early warning signs, implement screening tools, and coordinate with M-PATH specialists. This approach will help ensure that patients receive swift, psychosis-informed care tailored to meet their needs.

“By partnering with MLCHC, we’re not just bringing services to community health centers— we’re providing PCPs and other CHC staff with the vital tools and knowledge they need to detect early signs of psychosis, which can be life altering for their patients. For many of these youth, it’s about getting the right care at the right time from someone they already trust,” said Dr. Emily Gagen, Director of M-PATH.

This fall, the initiative will be launched in a small group of CHCs with plans to expand to more centers across the state over time. Stay tuned for further updates as the program grows.