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Are you having unusual experiences such as:

• Receiving messages from TV/radio?
  
• God or the devil communicating with you?
• Parts of your body changing shape?
• Your thoughts being too fast or too slow?
  

We are a friendly, free and confidential Early Intervention Service offering support to people aged 14 - 35 years who may be experiencing symptoms of early psychosis

What is Psychosis?

Psychosis describes a condition that affects the mind. People experiencing psychosis often have unusual thoughts. Insight can help you to gain more control over your experiences.

If you already have a support worker, it may be best if you talk with them about contacting the Insight Team.

Who works within the Insight Team?

Insight is a small multi-disciplinary team, comprising workers from backgrounds of youth and community work, community psychiatric nursing, counselling, psychotherapy, social work and occupational therapy. Additionally, the team is supported by input from a psychologist and a psychiatrist on a weekly basis.

Who is ‘Insight’ for?

We work with people aged 14 – 35 years residing within the Plymouth’s inner city boundaries, who appear to be experiencing symptoms indicating the early onset of a psychotic episode; first episodes of experiences to be within the last 12 months. In the event that a person referred to the team has received a diagnosis is less than 12 months old. Those people might have experiences voices, visions they cannot find explanations for, a sense of paranoia, loss or disturbance to memory or ability to concentrate, or a feeling that on occasions, their thoughts are somehow in turmoil. People referred to the service may be experiencing rapid changes in mood, including feeling very depressed or fluctuating between extreme high or low emotional states. Insight will also support people whose substance misuse severely affects their mental health.

What does Insight do?

Insight helps people to gain greater understanding about their experiences of changing mental health. We help people to learn about ways in which they can gain more control over distressing experiences that may not have been previously possible.

Such distress characteristically reflects:

• The experience of hearing voices
• Bizarre thoughts which may indicate an episode of psychosis
• The uncertainty created by feelings of extreme anxiety, fear or suspicion

What is the philosophy behind the innovative service?

The team work to promote and develop coping strategies, which people can adopt, in order to manage their experiences and cope with daily life. Insight also works with carers of young people, helping to create an environment which will encourage healthy, supportive relationships between the young person and their carers and/or family. 

Insight values the experiences of people ands works to empower and enable them. We strive to promote personal growth and self-esteem. The teams philosophy seeks to enable you to identify ways in which to learn to become more aware of the experiences and events in life.

Who can refer to Insight?

Anyone with an interest in a person who is having the sorts of experiences referred to above.

How can you get help?

• Drop into The Zone and speak to a Youth Support Worker who will be able to help you decide if a referral is right for you. See our Get in touch page for opening times.
• Go to your GP, who can then refer you to the Insight Team.
• You can complete our online form in the do you need more help? section on the right and someone from the zone will get in touch with you.
• Go to the downloadable information tab on the right hand side of this page to download our referral forms to complete and give to us yourself. Professionals can also use this form to refer in to the team.
• Pick up the phone and speak to one of the team on 01752 265775