3.2 Provide youth (and their family members/caregivers, if appropriate) information about what to expect from adult mental health services.

Youth transitioning from child to adult mental health services are navigating a critical life stage, marked by developmental milestones and new life experiences (Borah et al., 2021). These simultaneous changes may further complicate health care transitions.

Youth identified several factors that make transitions difficult, including: uncertainty about the definition of transition and the appropriate age for transfer, a lack of transition readiness, limited involvement in the transition process, confusion about roles and responsibilities in the transition process, and concerns over transition gaps leading to poor mental health outcomes (Cleverley et al., 2020).

One of the most significant changes these youth face is the stark contrast between the child and adolescent mental health services system and adult mental health services. Youth have identified decreased support in adult mental health services compared to child and adolescent services, and a lack of information sharing between systems. Child and adolescent mental health services are seen as nurturing and family-oriented, whereas adult mental health services treat youth as autonomous adults with limited family involvement (Borah et al., 2021). This difference between the two systems can result in a sudden shift in the type and level of care, increasing the risk of care disengagement (Borah et al., 2021). Youth have reported feeling underprepared for the transition process, particularly due to a lack of information about their available options (Cleverley et al., 2020). As a result, they have emphasized the importance of being active partners in the planning process and ensuring that information about the transition is clearly communicated (Cleverley et al., 2020).

Resources

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For more information on adult mental health systems

CMHA, Transitioning from Youth to Adult Mental Health Services

EMPOWER