Detects Education Campaign – Informing the Public and raising awareness of psychosis and Detects services
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Since 2005 DETECT has been running an awareness campaign about psychosis targeting the public, allied mental health professionals and general practitioners (GPs).
Although the extent of this work is limited by funding, a number of innovative projects aimed at increasing public awareness about psychosis have been completed.
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2005/2006
The book 'Understanding Mental Health' was launched and goes on sale to the public. A copy was sent to all schools by the HSE.
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2007
The website www.detect.ie was launched
A storyline in Fair City about psychosis ran for 5 months.
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2008
A Golf Classic was organised in Wicklow to raise awareness and raise funds for the education campaign.
DETECT took part in a public meeting regarding mental health in Wicklow.
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2009
Article entitled 'Early Detection is the key to dealing with mental health issues' was published in the Irish Times
DETECT podcast was uploaded onto YouTube.
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2010
A mail shot of a leaflet about psychosis was delivered to 125,000 households
DETECT joined as a partner with the See Change Campaign and was involved in ten public forums.
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2011
On 3 occasions during 2011 a group of interested mental health professionals from all around Ireland gathered to hear guest speakers present on the benefits of early intervention.
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2012
DETECT commissioned the writing of a play about psychosis, the final piece of work "One man, many voices" was performed to over 800 people during 2012.
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2013
Development and launch of DETECT mobile App.
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Information workshops are provided to those who are in contact with young people in the community,
eg teachers, university health staff, counsellors, Gardai, sports leaders, youth voluntary groups, practice nurses, and helpline staff.
In excess of 900 professionals have attended workshops over the last seven years. The effectiveness of workshops is evaluated through questionnaires.
Results indicate that considerable knowledge is gained through attendance,
leading to increased confidence in ability to detect the early signs of psychosis and to refer to appropriate services.
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A survey of Irish GPs in 2003,
found that GPs identified education about psychosis, rapid assessment,
psychological therapies for their patients and better communication from the mental health services as priorities for the patients with psychosis.
DETECT in collaboration with the ICGP, devised and implemented an education programme consisting of (1) workshops as part of the GP Continuous Medical Education (CME) programme,
(2) a postal information campaign, and (3) published Early Psychosis Guidelines for Primary Care.
Over 600 professionals have attended the educational programme, many of whom practice in the DETECT catchment area.
A DETECT survey of GP satisfaction conducted in 2007, found that 80% of the 126 respondents found the service very / extremely useful.