These unprecedented times will put an inordinate strain on our services, which has led to the publication propecia 1 mg on sale of helpful advice from NHS England on prioritising our mental health services. Of course it is vital to re-evaluate what is important and ensure that unnecessary activities are minimised in order to direct scarce staff resources to the point of greatest need.

For some time, EIP services were considered luxury services viagra india with high staffing levels, low caseloads and highly skilled practitioners. At times like this it may be tempting to think buy cialis on that EIP teams would be an easy place to look for staff to supplement other activities.

EI staff can certainly play their cialis vs viagra part in supporting the wider system during this crisis. They have skills in managing complex needs in the community, positive risk management and their physical viagra tab health strengths can be called upon. However, it is important to recall the rationale for EIP. These teams were established to support some of the most vulnerable people within our mental health system. They provide the individual and their family with the most evidence based interventions to optimise recovery and minimise the chances of relapse and the associated difficulties that a relapse would bring.

• Psychosis and psychotic disorders can be extremely debilitating.
• People who do not access effective treatment quickly are far more likely to experience poor outcomes.
• People with psychosis are three times more likely to attend A&E and almost five times more likely to be admitted as an emergency

We know that a relapse from a psychotic illness has not only a profound impact on the individual but also the family and wider support system. A relapse could lead to the involvement of a wide number of health and social care staff as well as family and friends who may be affected by the impact of an acute psychotic episode.

Therefore, especially in the current climate, one of the most important things we could do in mental health would be to prevent relapse and thereby minimise this impact on family and friends and on the health, social care and criminal justice systems. EIP is one of the most evidenced systems of care to achieve this and as such should be prioritised alongside other essential services such as crisis teams.

Although it may be hard to sustain, it’s important to recognise that guidelines are clear on the interventions and approaches that achieve good outcomes, and the closer teams can remain aligned to these guidelines, the more likely they are to achieve them. EIP teams will need to focus on those with greatest need, utilise new technological strategies to deliver interventions and amend treatment protocols during the outbreak. But, similar to the daily reminder from our scientists about the best way to overcome the coronavirus, please remember the science and the evidence for what works.

From a mental health perspective, if we are to achieve social distancing, without increasing strain on crisis pathways, inpatient beds and the acute sector, EIP should be seen as a vital tool. It should not be considered a luxury that can’t be justified in difficult times, but a vital service model that needs to be prioritised and sustained.

Paul French