It’s challenging for young adults ages 17+ struggling with their mental health, which often limits their ability to be independent. Making this transition with mental health challenges may lead to an existing problem getting worse or triggering new problems. They need additional support in their transition to adulthood. These challenges may be:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Loneliness
- Trauma
- ADHD
- Autism
- Lack of purpose
The transition to adulthood is challenging for parents as well, but for young adults with mental health conditions, it can be a period of high risk where care falls apart.
New tasks often include: moving away from family, becoming independent, developing one’s identity, and learning to handle more complex relationships. Handling these tasks while adjusting to the world of work or college can be challenging.
Transition treatment is a proactive, structured process designed to bridge this gap for young adults, equipping them with the skills and confidence to manage their own health, education, and life as independent adults.
Transitional living residences provide a range of care, helping youth develop essential life skills, develop mental health resilience, and prepare for successful lives. There are several types of transitional living programs: for those with mental health or developmental challenges, physical disabilities, or homeless youth.
In this Insight, I explore what this means for young adults with mental health and developmental challenges, and for their parents.
Transitional Treatment: Connection, Independence and Health
Transition treatment is the purposeful, planned movement of young adults from child-centered to adult-oriented healthcare and life systems. It’s about building the capabilities of young adults to manage their own lives independently and cope with stressors.
Transitioning from a parent-led model (where parents are the primary managers) to a young adult-led model (where the individual is in the driver’s seat, with coaching) can be challenging for parents as well as young adults. In doing so, independence is developed with appropriate autonomy and mental health support.
To address the unique challenges and goals of each person, transitional programs offer customized plans for each young adult.
The best transitional living programs emphasize creating community among residents. Connections are a central aspect, enabling peer support to complement staff coaching and support, and encourage young adults to develop networks in the local community.
Mental health recovery is enhanced by creating a sense of community and belonging. This helps address the loneliness of young adults with mental health conditions. Group therapy, adventure and recreational programs, and goal-setting workshops help with social integration and improved well-being.
Three Pillars of a Successful Transition to Adulthood
Pillar 1: Healthcare Autonomy
- Understanding the Condition: Moving from “I have this mental health condition” to understanding the diagnosis, treatment plan, and warning signs.
- Practical Skills: Making appointments, refilling prescriptions, knowing about insurance, speaking directly with doctors, and successfully advocating for themselves.
- Transfer of Care: Finding an appropriate medical provider and making sure medical records are transferred correctly.
Pillar 2: Skills for Independent Living
Beyond the Doctor’s Office: Making the connection between health and overall well-being.
Key Areas: Preparing and keeping a budget, cooking nutritious meals, having a clean living space, navigating public transportation, and knowing basic legal rights.
Pillar 3: The “How” of Adulthood
Developing the cognitive and emotional skills needed to assume adulthood:
- Executive Functioning: Coaching on making plans, getting organized, managing time, and starting tasks.
- Emotional Regulation: Guidance and training on coping with stress, frustration, and setbacks.
- Social Skills: Develop healthy relationships. Learn to network for employment.
- Goal Setting: Create and follow through on goals for school, work, and personal life.
Most transitional living programs for young adults typically include:
Supported Housing
- Safe, time-limited housing in group settings, shared apartments, or individual units.
- To bridge young adults from home to independent living, the length of stay ranges from 6-24 months.
Life Skills Development
- Coaching on how to budget, cook, clean, look for jobs, decide on education, and develop interpersonal skills to foster independence.
Case Management and Individualized Planning
- For needs assessment, coordinating services, and creating individualized service or treatment plans.
- Focus on achieving goals related to housing stability, education, employment, and health.
Psychosocial Support
- Support for mental health, substance use, community building, and peer support.
- Psychiatric support
- Trauma-informed care and psychosocial rehabilitation.
Access to Education and Employment Services
- Vocational and academic support to assist with seeking continuing education, vocational training, and employment placement
Aftercare and Community Integration
- Make plans for follow-up support after program graduation.
- Connect residents to community resources, sustainable housing, and personal relationships.
Multidisciplinary Services
- Coaches, social workers, mental health professionals, substance abuse counselors, educators, and vocational counselors, work as a team to provide wrap-around services tailored to young adult needs.
How to Start the Journey
- For Young Adults: Start a conversation as early as possible with your parents and your current doctor. Ask questions. Take on one new responsibility at a time.
- For Parents/Caregivers: Consider changing your role from manager to coach. Sponsor your young adult’s independence. Locate resources and transition programs nationally [1].
How Engage Young Adult Transitions Can Help
Engage Young Adult Transitions is a transitional living program and therapeutic community that assists young adults on their path to independence. Using attachment theory, we provide a foundation for forming connections, getting involved with the community, managing mental health, and building life skills for long-term success.
Engage offers structured autonomy and high support, without creating dependence. Our therapists and life coaches are here to honor the young adults’ need to gain independence and freely move to a more secure sense of self and their relationships.
Located just steps from Southern Utah University in Cedar City, we offer access to services seven days a week, including academic support, vocational training, career guidance, life skill coaching, mental health therapies, and recreational activities.
Our community offers high levels of therapeutic support that honors autonomy and independence while guiding young adults to a life of freedom, emotional wellness, and success.
Get involved with the Engage Transitions community today!
Sources
[1] American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Moving Into Adulthood Resource Center