We have made significant progress in the last few months in our efforts to provide high-quality and timely care at the UW Medicine Behavioral Health Institute at Harborview Medical Center to youth and young adults experiencing a first episode of psychosis. Led by Monroe-DeVita, PhD, Lydia Chwastiak, MD, MPH, Carolyn Brenner, MD, and Sarah Kopelovich, PhD, — and funded by philanthropic support – we have assembled a coordinated specialty care team to provide comprehensive care for youth and young adults who experience a first episode of psychosis. . This multidisciplinary clinical team composed of physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers and other care providers offers evidence-based medication management, family therapy, individual psychotherapy and education and employment resources. Faculty who have expertise in schizophrenia spectrum disorders and First Episode Psychosis (FEP) provide training and consultation to the clinical team as well as direct care.

Next steps for the FEP team include expanding their care team by adding capacity for community outreach and a recovery support specialist who has lived experience with a serious mental illness, and growing the outpatient treatment program. To maintain the tremendous momentum already started and to help drive our efforts forward, we are currently recruiting for a new Director of the Behavioral Health Institute at Harborview.