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M-PATH to provide early psychosis training and support for PCPs statewide

Each year, more than 1,100 young people in Massachusetts are diagnosed with psychosis— a complex and often misunderstood condition. Early intervention is critical to improving outcomes, but most primary care providers feel ill-equipped to identify and treat psychotic disorders. To address this, The Brookline Center’s M-PATH program has launched a groundbreaking initiative to help primary care providers (PCPs) better identify and support young patients showing signs of early psychosis.

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

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

Through specialized training, education, learning communities, and ongoing consultation and support, the Early Psychosis Outreach Initiative will train community health center providers 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.

“Psychosis can significantly impact young peoples’ lives. By partnering with the League, 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. 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.