First Episode Psychosis (FEP)

FIRST.IL Participant Flyer (pdf)

What is FIRST.IL?

FIRST.IL is a specialized treatment approach that helps individuals who are between the ages of 14 to 40 and who have experienced their first episode of psychosis within the last 18 months.  Eligible diagnoses are schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder or other specified/unspecified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder with psychotic features, major depressive disorder with psychotic features and PTSD with dissociative symptoms.

The following is a list of providers offering FIRST. IL services, funded by IDHS/DBHR, throughout the state of Illinois, and includes the counties or other geographic areas served by each provider.

FIRST.IL Program Treatment Goals

• To reduce the symptoms of psychotic illnesses
• To improve individual and family functioning
• To reduce the chance of relapse
• To promote recovery and improve the long-term course of the illness
• To decrease the overall costs of treatment

FIRST.IL treatment is a manualized team-based approach:

• Psychiatric Care

  • Focuses on providing medications and interventions
  • Emphasis on shared decision-making

• Individual Resiliency Training

  • Helps individuals gain insight into their illness and develop tools for coping
  • Focuses on strengthening problem-solving abilities

• Supported Employment/ Education

  • Focuses on rapid return to or initiation of employment or education
  • Takes place at community sites
  • Is driven by individuals' needs and preferences

• Family Psychoeducation

  • Provides education about psychotic illnesses and assists families with problem-solving and communications

• Recovery Support

  • Assists in gaining greater independence
  • Links individuals to community resources
  • Helps navigate systems
  • Helps individual access and acquire services
  • Assists with educational goals

• Case Management
  • Assists with coordination of medical and mental health care
  • Educates individuals on community resources and assists with integration into the community
  • Provides feedback to the psychiatrist regarding individuals' medication adherence, side effects or symptoms
  • Provides crisis management as needed
• Substance Use Specialist
  • Educates individuals on substance use and its impact on mental health functioning
  • Helps individuals gain insight into substance use and how substances trigger psychotic symptoms

** The duration for FIRST.IL is typically three to five years, depending on individual's needs and preferences.

FIRST.IL treatment is appropriate for individuals:

• between 14-40 years of age
• diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder or other specified/unspecified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder with psychotic features, major depressive disorder with psychotic features and PTSD with dissociative symptoms.
• experiencing no more than 18 months of psychotic symptoms, whether treated or untreated;
• And willing to consent to participate in at least two of the five treatment modalities

FIRST.IL is not appropriate for individuals:

• with psychotic symptoms that are known to be caused by the temporary effects of substance abuse or another medical condition
• with an intellectual disability that impairs their ability to understand all of the treatment components

** If the treatment team does not feel that FIRST.IL is the most appropriate treatment resource for an individual, he or she will be referred to other community resources

FIRST.IL Enrollment Process

• Assessment: All calls to the dedicated FIRST.IL telephone number are returned within 24 hours
• Team Leader completes a phone screening and, if appropriate, an intake assessment
• If FIRST.IL treatment is appropriate, appointment with team Prescriber is expedited
• Team Prescriber makes final decision

** All individuals who do not meet criteria are referred to the most appropriate resource.