Open AccessTransition Cliffs for Young Adults with Anxiety and Depression: Is Integrated Mental Health Care a Solution?
Author(s) -
Azeesat Babajide,
Ana Ortin,
Chao Wei,
Laura Mufson,
Cristiane S. Duarte
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of behavioral health services and research/the journal of behavioral health services and research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.713
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1556-3308
pISSN - 1094-3412
DOI - 10.1007/s11414-019-09670-8
Subject(s) - mental health , anxiety , health psychology , young adult , depression (economics) , psychiatry , public health , psychology , health informatics , clinical psychology , medicine , developmental psychology , nursing , economics , macroeconomics
Young adulthood is a major transition period, particularly challenging for those with mental disorders. Though the prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders is especially high, young adults are less likely to receive mental health treatment than younger and older individuals. Reasons for this mental health treatment gap are multifold and range from individual- to system-level factors that must be taken into consideration when addressing young adult mental health needs. Studies in adults and adolescents have shown that integrated care in primary care settings is an effective model of treatment of mental disorders. After providing an overview of the mental health treatment gap in this developmental period, the argument is made for research focused on integrated care models specifically tailored for young adults that takes into consideration the various needs and challenges that they face and addresses the mental health treatment gap in young adulthood.