Barriers to the early identification and intervention of early psychosis among young rural males

Abstract

The literature shows that a lengthy duration of untreated psychosis has been recognised amongst young rural males. Early psychosis has been described as a cluster of symptoms marked by: hallucinations and delusions; thought disorder; and cognitive impairment and it is more prevalent amongst young males than young females. A significant discrepancy of duration of the length of untreated psychosis has been identified between rural and urban communities. This discrepancy has far reaching consequences for young rural men at a significant transitional developmental phase in their lives. This study, conducted in rural communities in northern New South Wales, sought to understand the lived experiences of young rural males and their families in regard to emergent mental health problems, in an effort to recognise the barriers to earlier identification of early psychosis, and its timely treatment.