Tuesday, May 15, 2012
London Health Sciences Centre
LHSC’s PEPP Program Wins Mental Health Champion Award
London Health Sciences Centre’s Prevention & Early Intervention Program for Psychoses (PEPP) was the recipient of the 2012 Mental Health Champion Award at this year’s Breakfast of Champions event, presented by St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation and the Canadian Mental Health Association.
PEPP is a world-renowned community-based treatment program for young adults with a first episode of non-affective psychoses in the London-Middlesex County. The majority of clients at PEPP are between the ages of 16 and 25 years. The primary goal is early intervention, offering specialized treatment and support for full and meaningful recovery. PEPP also aspires to reduce the stigma related to psychoses through public education and advocacy.
“Research at PEPP has shown that the quicker clients receive treatment, the better their outcome is. Also, good pre-illness functioning and having social supports predicts favourable outcome”, says Dr. Rahul Manchanda, physician lead for the PEPP program.
Realizing early on that recovery flourishes when individual strengths, abilities and accomplishments are valued and fostered within an accepting environment, in 2002 program staff created the now highly anticipated “Creative Minds” bi-annual exhibit, showcasing selected artwork by a variety of individuals whose lives have been affected by PEPP in some way. The next show will take place from October 30 - November 10, 2012 at the ARTS Project on Dundas Street.
It is this innovation and focus on a holistic approach to treatment and recovery that earned the program this distinguished award, and has resulted in approximately 45 to 55 new first episode psychotic clients per year (the general incidence is 15 - 20 people per 100,000 per year) entering treatment and receiving the quality care they need at the earliest moment possible.
“The PEPP program is a team of dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to ensure our patients are receiving the best and most effective care possible in their time of need. This program team epitomizes our vision of exceptional experiences, extraordinary people and engaging partnerships, and I offer my congratulations to them on this distinguished award,” says Bonnie Adamson, President and CEO of London Health Sciences Centre.
Media Contact:
Kathy Leblanc
Corporate Communications and Public Relations London Health Sciences Centre
519-685-8500 ext 74772
kathy.leblanc@lhsc.on.ca
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