Alta Is New Provider for FIRST Psychosis Treatment Program

Alta Behavioral Healthcare will provide services to schizophrenia sufferers in collaborative effort

Alta Behavioral Healthcare is now the provider for FIRST Mahoning County.

The FIRST Mahoning County program — a comprehensive treatment program for individuals who have had a first episode of a psychotic illness — is a collaboration between Alta Behavioral Healthcare, Compass Family & Community Services, the Mahoning County Mental Health & Recovery Board, and the Best Practices in Schizophrenia Treatment (BeST) Center of Northeast Ohio Medical University.

A psychotic illness is a mental illness in which someone experiences some loss of contact with reality. Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder are examples of psychotic illnesses.

FIRST is a specialized treatment program that helps individuals who are between the ages of 15 and 40 and who have had psychotic symptoms for no more than 18 months. Research suggests that early identification and intervention of schizophrenia spectrum disorders is very important, and the earlier and more comprehensive the treatment, the better the likelihood of a faster, more complete recovery.

The FIRST Mahoning County team members work together to provide treatment, information and support to clients and their families and significant others. Components of the program may include:

individual counseling
psychiatric care
supported employment/education
family education and support
case management

To refer someone or learn more about the FIRST Mahoning County program, contact the FIRST Mahoning County Team Leader at (234) 201-2512.

PHOTO: Joseph Shorokey, CEO of Alta Behavioral Healthcare (left) and Nick Dunlap of Northeast Ohio Medical University (right) at a recent event introducing Alta as the provider for the FIRST Mahoning County program.