SAMHSA Report Shows Community-Based Programs Improve Lives Of Mentally Ill Young Adults
Mentally ill young adults, ages 18 to 25, expressed that they had greater confidence in their abilities to perform important everyday tasks after participating in community-based mental health programs, says a report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
According to UPI, the report entitled "Promoting Recovery and Independence for Older Adolescents and Young Adults Who Experience Serious Mental Health Challenges" showed that older adolescents and young adults who participated in SAMHSA-supported treatment programs achieved positive outcomes in behavioral and emotional health, skills, employment, education, and reduced homelessness.
20 percent of young adults living in the U.S. were diagnosed with a mental health condition last year, according to the report. And, of that 20 percent, more than 1.3 million young adults had a disorder that impaired their ability to function in many aspects of everyday life.
Since participating in the SAMHSA programs, however, 28 percent of the young adults showed improvements in behavioral and emotional health within six months. And that number leapt to 38 percent, showing significant improvement within the first year of treatment.
"These data show that treatment is effective," said Pamela S. Hyde, administrator of SMHSA. "Young people who experience mental or substance use disorders can recover and lead healthy, productive lives with improvements in employment opportunities, housing, education and emotional well-being."