How to Coach Yourself and Others Coaching and Counseling in Difficult Circumstances | Page 19

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2. Psychosis First Aid Guidelines
• How do I know if someone is experiencing psychosis?
• Common symptoms when psychosis is developing
• How should I approach someone who may be experiencing psychotic symptoms?
• How can I be supportive?
• How do I deal with delusions and hallucinations?
• How do I deal with communication difficulties?
• What if the person doesn’t want help?
• What should I do in a crisis situation?
• What if the person becomes aggressive?
• How to de-escalate the situation.
Source:
The MHFA Training & Research Program
Orygen Youth Health Research Centre
Department of Psychiatry
The University of Melbourne
AUSTRALIA
www.mhfa.com.au
How do I know if someone is experiencing psychosis?
It is important to learn about the early warning signs of psychosis (see box) so that you can recognize when
someone may be developing psychosis. Although these signs may not be very dramatic on their own, when you
consider them together, they may suggest that something is not quite right. It is important not to ignore or
dismiss such warning signs, even if they appear gradually and are unclear. Do not assume that the person is just
going through a phase or misusing alcohol or other drugs, or that the symptoms will go away on their own.
Common symptoms when psychosis is developing:
Changes in emotion and motivation:
Depression; anxiety; irritability; suspiciousness; blunted, flat or inappropriate emotion;
Change in appetite; reduced energy and motivation
Changes in thinking and perception:
Difficulties with concentration or attention; sense of alteration of self, others or outside world (e.g. feeling that
self or others have changed or are acting differently in some wa