Why Outpatient Mental Health Services are Necessary for Young Adults
Did you know that one in four young adults ages 18-24 have a diagnosable mental illness? What's more, 64% of young adults who are no longer attending college report it's because of a mental health-related reason.
Despite these staggering statistics, the mental health of young adults, including college students, often goes unnoticed. We continue to see the needs for mental health treatment for young adults remain unmet.
Keep reading to learn why outpatient mental health services are so crucial for young adults who may be struggling to make their way in this world.
Nearly 70% of mental disorders start before the age of 25. But still, hundreds of young adults remain under-diagnosed and under-treated. Often, poor mental health indicators are overlooked because of a lack of mental health awareness or knowledge and negative stigma surrounding seeking help.
Benefits of Mental Health Outpatient Services
Mental health awareness, diagnosis, and treatment early on in life are key. Here are some advantages of outpatient mental health services.
Get the Help You Need without Entirely Disrupting Your Life
Outpatient mental health services allow you to seek the help you need without disrupting the flow of your daily life too much. Students can still go to school and get their work done and even keep their part-time jobs while seeking outpatient mental health care. Keeping this routine and being able to continue living at home (or in a dorm or apartment) is very beneficial for recovery and teaches the patient real-life coping skills while still being able to seek treatment and check-in with their provider when needed.
Treatment Flexibility
If a patient is not responding well to typical outpatient treatment, their provider can work with them to adapt their treatment plan to find one that works. This means that if/when needed, a patient can receive therapy two or three times a week instead of once and then go back to once per week when things have become easier to manage. A flexible outpatient treatment adapts to the patient's schedule and opens up new possibilities for improved treatment outcomes.
Learn Coping Skills for Life
One of the most valuable parts of outpatient mental health treatment is that patients learn invaluable coping skills that they will use for the rest of their lives. Young adulthood is a time for learning, and learning mental health coping mechanisms and skills is no exception.
Mental Health on Campus
Nearly 73% of students with a mental health condition report experiencing a mental health crisis on campus. Yet, almost 35% reported their college was unaware of their situation. When students are unaware or don't have access to the mental health services they need, their chances of a successful outcome take a deep dive. The top impediment to academic performance, as reported by students, is depression and anxiety. That means that without seeking help for mental health, many students are unable to complete their work, and as a result, their grades suffer, and they may end up dropping out. 31% of college students report feeling so depressed in the past year that it was hard for them to function, and more than 50% have experienced feelings of overwhelming anxiety, making it hard to succeed academically.
What Young Adults Should Know About Mental Health
Mental health is serious business. But, help is available. Here's what young adults should know about mental health.
You are not alone: Mental health issues among young adults are far more common than most people think. Just because people don't talk about it does not mean you are the only one struggling.
Peer support: Being there for them is one of the greatest gifts you can give someone living with a mental health condition. Share ways to help and support others as well as yourself. Understand how you can be a friend to someone living with a mental health condition.
Know the signs and symptoms of mental health conditions: Be aware of any sudden changes in sleeping patterns, eating habits, behaviors, perceptions, and social interactions in yourself and others. Remember, mental health conditions are nothing to be ashamed of, and they are not a weakness or character flaw. Life with mental health conditions can be happy, manageable, and fulfilling. But first, you must seek the treatment you need.
There is help, and there is hope: More people are getting help than you may realize, and help is available. There is nothing to be ashamed of by taking control of your mental health. You should seek help if you are struggling because your mental health is key to your overall health and academic performance.
Mental Health Conditions that Impact Young Adults
Mental health conditions don't discriminate based on age. But, there are some conditions that are more prevalent among young adults, including:
Anxiety Disorders: Anxiety is the most prevalent mental health concern among college students and young adults.
Suicide: Though not a distinguishing mental health diagnosis, suicide remains the third leading cause of death among young adults and is a major problem among college students.
Eating disorders, including bulimia, anorexia, and binge eating, often start during adolescence, but there is a rapidly increased risk during early adulthood.
Get Help Today
Mental health is impacted by the stress of college life and being a young adult. Everybody deals with their own challenges in life and often needs some help to address them. Everybody will experience some type of mental health issue in their life. It's important that you are aware of it so you can take action and make sure your mental health issue is not detrimental to your health or future.
At Strong Therapy and Community Support, we're committed to providing you with exceptional care in a compassionate and friendly atmosphere. We understand that each person is an individual, and each session is tailored to your strengths and needs.
