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Understanding Psychosis

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

What types of psychosis are there? 

This section covers:

  • hallucinations
  • delusions
  • disorganised thinking and speech

Hallucinations 

Hallucinations could include:

  • seeing things that other people don’t (for example people’s faces, animals or religious figures)
  • seeing objects that seem to be distorted or move in ways that they usually wouldn’t
  • experiencing tastes, smells and sensations that have no apparent cause (for example feeling insects crawling on your skin)
  • hearing voices that other people don’t (these could be positive and helpful or hostile and nasty).

“I felt as though I was in wonderland. None of my family or friends understood why… I had a calling from a voice in sky. I was lost and lonely.”

Delusions 

Lots of people have beliefs that many other people don’t share. But a delusion is usually a belief that nobody else shares and which other experiences or perceptions show cannot be true. It is natural for delusions to feel completely real to you when you are experiencing them. 

You might think that you are a very important person. For example, you may believe that you are rich and powerful or that you can control the stock markets or the weather. These kinds of beliefs are sometimes called ‘delusions of grandeur’. 

Some people find that they can spend a lot of money or take on a lot of debt while they are experiencing psychosis, because their sense of reality has been affected. See our pages on money and mental health for more information and support. 

Some delusions can be very frightening and can make you feel threatened or unsafe. For example, you might feel that something or someone is trying to control, harm or kill you (even when you have no reason to believe this). These ideas are sometimes called paranoid delusions.

Disorganised thinking and speech 

Hallucinations and delusions can make your thoughts and emotions feel confused and disorganised, but disorganised thinking (sometimes called ‘formal thought disorder’) can also be a specific type of psychosis. 

Mental health professionals may use the following terms to describe what you are experiencing: 

  • Racing thoughts is when your thoughts go through your head very fast. It can involve them racing so fast that they feel out of control..
  • Flight of ideas is where your thoughts move very quickly from idea to idea, making links and seeing meaning between things that other people don’t.

Many people find that they experience racing thoughts and flight of ideas at the same time. If you have disorganised thinking you might: 

  • Speak very quickly and stumble over your words. Other people may find it difficult to understand what you’re saying.
  • Link words together because of the way they sound rather than what they mean. This can mean your speech sounds jumbled and doesn’t make sense to other people. This is sometimes called word salad.
  • Change the topic of conversation very quickly as your thoughts move from one thing to another.
  • Find it difficult to keep your attention on one thing.

“Racing ideas flooded my mind. It seemed as though my mind was disintegrating, my inner life – my unconscious mind – started flooding my consciousness without a break.” 

You may also have racing thoughts and flight of ideas if you experience mania or hypomania. If you only experience them during a depressive, manic or mixed episode then you may be given a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. 

See our pages on bipolar disorder for more information.

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What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

What types of psychosis are there?

What types of psychosis are there? 

This section covers:

  • hallucinations
  • delusions
  • disorganised thinking and speech

Hallucinations 

Hallucinations could include:

  • seeing things that other people don't (for example people's faces, animals or religious figures)
  • seeing objects that seem to be distorted or move in ways that they usually wouldn't
  • experiencing tastes, smells and sensations that have no apparent cause (for example feeling insects crawling on your skin)
  • hearing voices that other people don't (these could be positive and helpful or hostile and nasty).

"I felt as though I was in wonderland. None of my family or friends understood why... I had a calling from a voice in sky. I was lost and lonely."

Delusions 

Lots of people have beliefs that many other people don't share. But a delusion is usually a belief that nobody else shares and which other experiences or perceptions show cannot be true. It is natural for delusions to feel completely real to you when you are experiencing them. 

You might think that you are a very important person. For example, you may believe that you are rich and powerful or that you can control the stock markets or the weather. These kinds of beliefs are sometimes called 'delusions of grandeur'. 

Some people find that they can spend a lot of money or take on a lot of debt while they are experiencing psychosis, because their sense of reality has been affected. See our pages on money and mental health for more information and support. 

Some delusions can be very frightening and can make you feel threatened or unsafe. For example, you might feel that something or someone is trying to control, harm or kill you (even when you have no reason to believe this). These ideas are sometimes called paranoid delusions.

Disorganised thinking and speech 

Hallucinations and delusions can make your thoughts and emotions feel confused and disorganised, but disorganised thinking (sometimes called 'formal thought disorder') can also be a specific type of psychosis. 

Mental health professionals may use the following terms to describe what you are experiencing: 

  • Racing thoughts is when your thoughts go through your head very fast. It can involve them racing so fast that they feel out of control..
  • Flight of ideas is where your thoughts move very quickly from idea to idea, making links and seeing meaning between things that other people don't.

Many people find that they experience racing thoughts and flight of ideas at the same time. If you have disorganised thinking you might: 

  • Speak very quickly and stumble over your words. Other people may find it difficult to understand what you're saying.
  • Link words together because of the way they sound rather than what they mean. This can mean your speech sounds jumbled and doesn't make sense to other people. This is sometimes called word salad.
  • Change the topic of conversation very quickly as your thoughts move from one thing to another.
  • Find it difficult to keep your attention on one thing.

"Racing ideas flooded my mind. It seemed as though my mind was disintegrating, my inner life – my unconscious mind – started flooding my consciousness without a break." 

You may also have racing thoughts and flight of ideas if you experience mania or hypomania. If you only experience them during a depressive, manic or mixed episode then you may be given a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. 

See our pages on bipolar disorder for more information.