The Brookline Center’s CEDAR Program Marks 15 Years of Innovative Early Intervention for Youth at Risk of Psychosis
(Brookline, Mass. – November 14, 2024) The Brookline Center for Community Mental Health’s groundbreaking CEDAR program is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. As one of only three programs of its kind in Massachusetts, CEDAR provides specialized early intervention services for youth and young adults who are at risk for or experiencing early psychosis. Over 15 years, CEDAR has helped hundreds of young people and their families statewide get crucial early treatment and support.
CEDAR’s multidisciplinary team works with young people ages 12-30 and their families to mitigate the severity of illness and, in many cases, change its trajectory. Patients receive coordinated specialty care and have access to a range of services, from individual and family therapy, to coaching for school and work, to psychiatry. CEDAR has found that this investment in comprehensive, personalized services significantly enhances care.
“CEDAR was pioneering when it launched in 2009, and it remains vitally important today as one of the only resources of its kind in the state,” said Ian Lang, CEO of The Brookline Center. “Many people don’t realize that psychosis is treatable, especially when symptoms are recognized and addressed early on. Research shows that access to expert, quality mental health care at the first signs of psychosis can have life-changing effects.”
Established in 2009 through a collaboration between Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Massachusetts Mental Health Center, and the Sidney R. Baer Jr. Foundation, CEDAR pioneered a coordinated specialty care model to identify and treat psychosis-risk symptoms before serious mental illness develops. The original founders of the program were Michelle Friedman-Yakoobian, PhD; Matcheri Keshavan, MD; Larry Seidman, MD; Kristen Woodberry, PhD; and Suzannah Zimmet, MD.
In 2018, CEDAR became a satellite clinic of The Brookline Center, and it continues to be funded by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health.
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.
Leaning into The Brookline Center’s community mental health values around access and equity, CEDAR aims to care for as many young people as possible. Most programs for this population of youth are based at academic medical centers, are research study-based, and consequently have strict eligibility requirements. At CEDAR, patients are never turned away because they don’t meet exclusive criteria.
“When CEDAR was established, it was one of the first programs in the country focused on early intervention for patients showing signs of psychosis,” said Dr. Henry White, MD, Senior Innovation Advisor. “Since The Brookline Center integrated CEDAR into its programs in 2018, we’ve drawn on our deep culture of meaningful innovation to transform and scale the program, expanding its reach throughout the community and making it more accessible, equitable, and impactful for those in need.”
“The CEDAR model shows what’s possible when you prioritize access and provide coordinated, specialized care tailored to each patient’s needs. We’ve seen the profound difference this approach can make in changing lives,” said Dr. Amanda Weber, CEDAR’s Clinical Director. “By identifying psychosis risk factors early and quickly connecting patients to care, these programs can help young people get back on track.”
Building on the success of CEDAR and recognizing the need for expanded access to early psychosis services, The Brookline Center launched the Massachusetts Psychosis Access and Triage Hub (M-PATH) in late 2022 to more quickly connect young people with psychosis services that best meet their needs.
Serving youth and young adults with early psychosis, their families, providers, schools, and community organizations, M-PATH aims to improve equitable access to care and decrease the duration of untreated psychosis. The program offers expert consultation, referral assistance, education, and care coordination. Since its launch, M-PATH has assisted over 300 clients, families, and providers, responding to inquiries within an average of just one day.
“Family members are relieved upon receiving a call back from us just hours after reaching out,” says Dr. Emily Gagen, M-PATH’s Director. “Having a place to ask questions, share their stories, and receive validation has helped them feel less alone in navigating mental health services.”
About The Brookline Center for Community Mental Health
The Brookline Center for Community Mental Health works to transform the mental health care system through the development and delivery of innovative programs and services. The Center provides mental health services and programs rooted in meaningful innovation and compassionate care, serving adults and children in local communities, across Massachusetts, and nationwide. Our vision: a mental health care system effective and equitable for all.
For more information, visit www.brooklinecenter.org