Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI)

The Early Psychosis Intervention Multi-Disciplinary Team (EPI MDT) is a partnership between SHIP, Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin (CMHA Peel Dufferin) and Punjabi Community Health Services (PCHS).

This community team provides an easily accessible, stigma-free model of care to young people that meets their specific developmental needs. The EPI MDT’s goal is to improve outcomes for young people with psychosis through early identification, intervention and treatment tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual, based on emerging best practices in clinical care and research.

Who Is This Program For:

• Young people, aged 14-35 years of age
• Experiencing psychosis – i.e., psychosis is the primary presenting issue (e.g., in relation to schizophrenia, schizophreniform, schizoaffective, bipolar I, psychosis not otherwise specified, substance-induced psychosis)
• Has not previously received the full complement of early psychosis intervention care (i.e., general guidelines are for either no treatment or 6 months or less treatment for psychosis)

EPI MDT does not provide:

• ACTT (Assertive Community Treatment Team) level care. Please consider a referral to SHIP ACTT
• Supportive Housing – Please consider a referral to Supportive Housing or Peel Youth Village
• Counselling for general youth mental health concerns where there is no concerns or query of psychosis. In Dufferin, please consider a referral to Dufferin Case Management.
• Developmental Services – Please consider a referral to Developmental Services Ontario (DSO)
• Services outside the Peel and Dufferin catchment area. If you live reside outside our catchment there may still be an EPI team near you. Please visit to search the EPI Ontario Teams directory: https://help4psychosis.ca/help-near-you/

Additional Referral Details

We accept:

• Referrals from physicians, individuals seeking service (self-referrals) and/or family members, schools, and community agencies

Referral Forms

All referrals are processed through SHIP Central Intake.

SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

Program Duration:

Up to 3 years for clients residing within the EPI MDT catchment area as clinically indicated. For clients who move outside the catchment area, after the initial assessment and necessary immediate intervention, we try to refer patients to their local early intervention service for ongoing treatment and follow-up.

Waiting Period:

We make an effort to offer a consultation within 2 weeks of receiving a referral. Referrals are generally contacted for initial eligibility screening within two business days of when the referral is received by Central Intake.

Locations and Contact Information:

SHIP main office:

60 Courtneypark Dr W, #2

Mississauga, ON L5W 0B3

Central Intake: 1-855-795-8742 or 1-905-795-8742

Dufferin office:

236 First St, Orangeville

L9W 3K1

Dufferin Access: 519-307-8700 

*Please note satellite offices are by appointment only. If you reside in Dufferin and are not connected with our services, please begin by contacting the Dufferin Access line (above).

EPI MDT Hours of Operation:

Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

*Late appointments may be available to accommodate individual schedule needs (e.g., work and school).

IN CRISIS? EPI MDT is not a crisis service. If you are in crisis, please contact: 

24.7 Crisis Support Peel Dufferin 905-278-9036 or 1-888-811-2222 

If your situation is a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

EPI MDT Partners Contact Information