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Recognizing and Responding to Signs of Early Psychosis

Room Paradise Ballroom C

Speaker(s)

Rebecca Preston, PhD

Description

This session will provide an overview of what early psychosis is, including signs and symptoms, how symptoms occur on a continuum, and the importance of linking individuals to appropriate services.

Objectives

  • Describe the building blocks of psychosis spectrum disorders
  • Evaluate psychosis — establishing the threshold
  • Discuss the importance of early identification and intervention
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Preston, Rebecca, PhD

Dr. Rebecca Preston is the Clinical Lead of the Early Psychosis Care Center. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Hosftra University with training strongly rooted in evidence-based treatment modalities and rigorous research methods. Her research interests concentrate on stressors and impaired self-regulatory behaviors that both predate and maintain disorders of self-control and co-morbid psychiatric disorders in vulnerable populations. With the Early Psychosis Care Center, Rebecca develops trainings and facilitates the implementation of evidence-based practices to prevent the onset of and provide treatment for early psychosis in individuals in Missouri.

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Coffey, Bridget, MA, MSW

Bridget Coffey (MA, MSW) is a research consultant on the Addiction Science team at UMSL-MIMH. At work, Bridget enjoys asking questions, exploring possibilities, and figuring out how things work. In the ASPIRE lab, Bridget serves as a liaison with the Addiction Science team and helper with things like Zotero and Qualtrics. She is currently interested in creating systems to nurture and champion the efforts of peer support workers in substance use treatment and recovery settings. Outside of work, Bridget enjoys spending time with her dogs, kayaking (though she doesn’t get out as much as she’d like to), and reading.

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Johnston, Ethan, MD

Dr. Ethan Johnston is a current PGY3 Psychiatry Resident at the University of Missouri- Kansas City. Dr. Johnston did his undergraduate and medical doctoral training at the University of Missouri Kansas City, graduating in 2021. He is currently the Residency Association President and Class Representative for the Program Evaluation Committee, and has been selected as the Chief Resident for the upcoming academic year. Dr. Johnston’s research and presentation portfolio include the following topics: Electroconvulsive Therapy in the Geriatric Population, Malingering of Psychotic Symptoms, Separation Anxiety Disorder in Children Mistaken for Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Involuntary Movement Disorders. Dr. Johnston has a strong interest in LGBTQ+ care with his recent Grand Rounds Presentation “Psychiatry for All. Considerations in psychiatric care for the gender diverse”. Dr. Johnston also has a passion for teaching, currently pursuing a Masters of Health Professions Education.

Presentation(s):

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Psychiatry for All: Considerations in Psychiatric Care for the Gender Diverse

Room Parasol I

Speaker(s)

Ethan Johnston, MD

Description

The transgender and gender nonconforming community faces numerous barriers. Structural, interpersonal, and individual stigmas against this community have led to health disparities, many of which are particularly relevant to the psychiatric community. Rates of most mental health diagnoses are much higher in the transgender community than in the general population, including mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and substance use disorders, giving psychiatric clinicians ample opportunity to intervene for the good of our patients. Provider discrimination, historical stigma from the psychiatric community, and previous poor experiences from medical providers lead to continued hesitancy to best help this population. In this presentation, we explore literature surrounding this topic, understand current views from the American Psychiatric Association on the transgender community, and evaluate ways that we can help this community. We define appropriate vocabulary, explore hormone replacement therapy and surgical options, and evaluate letters of support. We review the national transgender survey outlining current trends amongst the transgender community and what we as mental health providers can do to advocate for our patients. There is evidence behind hormone replacement therapy and gender affirming surgeries in this community, and as providers with a very high likelihood of encountering several members of this community in our practices, this presentation is a call for action to provide appropriate care, referrals, and advocacy for this patient population.

Objectives

  • Discuss the historical stigmatization of gender diverse individuals as related to the psychiatric community
  • Analyze the prevalence of mental health disorders in this community, current thoughts towards psychiatry from transgender and gender nonconforming individuals and how we can improve
  • Integrate the role of a mental health provider in aiding those seeking gender affirming care
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Hall, Alicia, MEd, LPC, NCC, EdS, IECMH

I, Alicia Buck-Hall, strive to utilize a Clinical Coordinated Care Approach to improve the lives of individuals, families, communities, and front-line responders by creating, enhancing, and accessing a system of support through a strengths-based, clinically relevant, consumer-driven model. I have fined tuned skills in accomplishing this by facilitating behavioral health services for professionals and non-professionals that encourage a safe, welcoming, engaging, culturally appropriate and responsive environment for treatment In developing a deeper understanding of the issues that impact and relate to individuals’ mental health, more specifically early childhood, and youth mental health, my passion is teaching other professional in utilizing practical skills daily through observation, including being able to spot the signs and symptoms of mental health issues and developing confidence in guiding people towards support as and early intervention practice.
By being diligent in advocacy, I am passionate about working with providers, professionals, community client serving specialist, in addition to clientele to strengthen skills in addressing wellness, behavioral and mental health concerns, thereby understanding the importance of self-awareness and self-care, while at the same time always being cognizant of cultural vulnerability. I am a trained and experienced Clinical Supervisor with the State of Missouri, and Behavioral Health Consultant skilled in providing integrated primary care and capacity building to behavioral health
teams. I am a National Mental Health First Aid Trainer to train and support client serving personnel and the community at large thereby promoting symptomology identification and intervention leading to promoting overall wellness from a culturally relevant lens. I also have obtained post graduate certification in Infant Early Childhood Mental Health through Georgetown University, currently seeking endorsement in the state of Missouri. I currently serve on the board MO-AIEMH – EC since 2020 in the state of Missouri.

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Echols, Michelle, DSW, LMSW, CADC

Dr. Michelle Echols, DSW, LMSW, CADC earned her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Kentucky in May of 2022 and her Doctor of Social Work degree in May of 2023. Services provided by Dr. Echols include teens, couples, substance use, and family therapy. As a Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor, she is looking to implement a substance use course/group for the community. Dr. Echols is focused on community wellness and self-empowerment. As a self-proclaimed “wellness broker” Dr. Echols teaches people how to leverage their time and money to intentionally be well in areas of fitness, finances, mental health, and spiritual health. Future plans for Dr. Echols include opening a wellness center in her hometown of St. Louis, MO. Until the wellness center is manifested, Dr. Echols will continue providing therapy, training, and participating in workshops/community forums to fulfill her commitment to service.

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Yates, Tara, MA

Tara Yates works for the Division of Behavioral Health as the Director of Quality Management for two adult psychiatric hospitals and one children’s hospital. She has been with the Department of Mental Health for 20 years. She started her career as a recreational therapist at St. Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center. Tara graduated for the University of Missouri- Columbia with a Bachelor’s of Science in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation. During her time at Mizzou, she worked at Mid-MO Mental Health Center where she first began working with individuals with mental illness. She went on to earn in Master’s in Healthcare Administration from Lindenwood University in 2020. Tara is a certified Black Belt, Master Change Leader, and Healthcare Quality Professional.

Presentation(s):

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Osborne, Heather, MA

Heather Osborne currently serves as the Fatality Review Coordinator and as a Disaster Services Planner for the Department of Mental Health. She has been with the Department of Mental Health since 2011, where she started out as a ward therapist for Southeast Missouri Mental Health Center. Her most recent role there was serving as the Director of Treatment Services-Adult Psychiatric Services. Heather has a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and a master’s degree in clinical counseling, both from Central Methodist University. She also holds a graduate certificate in Gerontology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and a certified Master Change Leader.

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