Youth services: the need to integrate mental health, physical health and social care

Abstract

Mental distress and mental health disorders are common in young people. Indeed, over 75 % of mental disorders begin before the age of 25 years. Long delays in seeking help for illnesses are common, initial intervention is often ineffective and young people are at risk of disengaging with treatment, particularly when they are expected to move from child and adolescent treating teams to adult services. All of these factors mean that young people are vulnerable to prolonged mental ill-health and its consequences, including educational failure, unemployment, social disengagement and deprivation, and development of further mental health problems including substance misuse. Malla et al. present different service models that attempt to address these issues. Additionally, there needs to be a focus on physical health and social care as these are intertwined with mental health.