Psychosis cont.
Tailor your approach to the young person. If the young person is suspicious and avoiding eye contact, be sensitive to this and give them the space they need. Never touch them without their permission, as they may feel intimidated or threatened. Adapt your communication style. The young person may be behaving and talking differently than usual – their speech may be disorganised and hard to follow. They may also find it difficult to tell what is real from what is not. This may make it harder to communicate with them. Try to: – Keep what you say short and simple – Repeat things if necessary – Be patient and allow plenty of time for the young person to process the information and respond to what you have said – Be aware that even if the person is only showing a limited range of feelings, this does not mean that they are not feeling anything – Try not to assume the young person can’t understand what you are saying, even if their response is limited – Let them set the pace and style of the conversation, as far as possible (228) Avoid speculating about any existing diagnosis. What is important is to allow them to talk about their experiences and beliefs if they want to. Highlight the specific behaviours you are concerned about. Offer consistent emotional support and understanding. Reassure the young person that you are there to help and support them, and that you want to keep them safe. If you are waiting for professional help or another member of staff in a school or workplace setting, reassure the person that you will stay with
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