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Transition-Age Youth: Who Are They? What Are Their Unique Developmental Needs? How Can Mental Health Practitioners Support Them?

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Transition-Age Youth Mental Health Care

Abstract

This chapter reviews the knowledge, skills, and attitudes mental health practitioners need to engage and retain transition-age youth (TAY) in mental health treatment across the transition from adolescence to young adulthood. The evolving terminology used to refer to this cohort is discussed. The demographic characteristics of TAY in the USA, the epidemiology of mental illness, and barriers to help-seeking are summarized. The normal developmental tasks of TAY are highlighted, along with what they need to foster psychosocial maturation. Implications for practice are discussed including the relevance of the system of care concept. Providers knowledgeable about disability laws, health insurance, post-high school options and supports, essential domains of adolescent/young adult functioning, and health care transition are better prepared to guide and support TAY with mental health conditions in reaching their goals. A life course and resilience-focused perspective is maintained throughout the chapter, underscoring that TAY may benefit from scaffolds and supports which extend across the transition to new environmental contexts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Adele Martel

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  1. Student Health Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA

    Vivien Chan

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA

    Jennifer Derenne

Appendix

Appendix

Helpful Resources

Transition-Related Laws

Reasonable Accommodations at School and at Work

Self-Advocacy Knowledge and Skills

Transition Preparation and Planning for Life After High School

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Martel, A. (2021). Transition-Age Youth: Who Are They? What Are Their Unique Developmental Needs? How Can Mental Health Practitioners Support Them?. In: Chan, V., Derenne, J. (eds) Transition-Age Youth Mental Health Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62113-1_1

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