A cross-sectional exploration of the clinical characteristics of disengaged (NEET) young people in primary mental healthcare

Abstract

ObjectiveYouth with mental health problems often have difficulties engaging in education and employment. In Australia, youth mental health services have been widely established with a key aim of improving role functioning; however, there is little knowledge of those who are not engaged in employment, education or training (NEET) and the factors which may influence this. This study aimed to examine NEET status and its correlates in a sample of such youth.DesignCross-sectional data from a longitudinal cohort study.SettingBetween January 2011 and August 2012, young people presenting to one of the four primary mental health centres in Sydney or Melbourne were invited to participate.ParticipantsYoung adults (N=696) aged between 15 and 25 years (M=19.0, SD=2.8), 68% female, 58% (n=404) attended headspace in Sydney.MeasuresIndividuals ‘Not in any type of Education, Employment or Training’ in the past month were categorised as NEET. Demographic, psychological and clinical factors alongside disability and functioning were assessed using clinical interview and self-report.ResultsA total of 19% (n=130/696) were NEET. NEETs were more likely to be male, older, have a history of criminal charges, risky cannabis use, higher level of depression, poorer social functioning, greater disability and economic hardship, and a more advanced stage of mental illness than those engaged in education, training or work. Demographics such as postsecondary education, immigrant background and indigenous background, were not significantly associated with NEET status in this sample.ConclusionsOne in five young people seeking help for mental health problems were not in any form of education, employment and training. The commonly observed risk factors did not appear to influence this association, instead, behavioural factors such as criminal offending and cannabis use appeared to require targeted intervention.

Prediction of vocational participation and global role functioning in help-seeking young adults, from neurocognitive, demographic and clinical variables

“…This is congruent with other studies of work and study outcomes in young people which has also identified gender, educational attainment, socioeconomic background, recent cannabis use and, as previously discussed, family history of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (Benjet et al, 2012;O'Dea et al, 2014). Prior research specific to help-seeking young people also identified being male and recent cannabis use (O'Dea et al, 2014). In-particular the influence of cannabis use on functioning in young people is well reported and regardless of psychiatric status there is an association between frequent harmful use and higher emotional and behavioural problems (Sawyer et al, 2000), reduced educational attainment (Lynskey et al, 2003;Schuster et al, 2001) and vocational functioning (Hyggen, 2012;O'Dea et al, 2014;Ringel et al, 2007).…”

“…This is congruent with other studies of work and study outcomes in young people which has also identified gender, educational attainment, socioeconomic background, recent cannabis use and, as previously discussed, family history of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (Benjet et al, 2012;O'Dea et al, 2014). Prior research specific to help-seeking young people also identified being male and recent cannabis use (O'Dea et al, 2014).…”

“…Prior research specific to help-seeking young people also identified being male and recent cannabis use (O'Dea et al, 2014). In-particular the influence of cannabis use on functioning in young people is well reported and regardless of psychiatric status there is an association between frequent harmful use and higher emotional and behavioural problems (Sawyer et al, 2000), reduced educational attainment (Lynskey et al, 2003;Schuster et al, 2001) and vocational functioning (Hyggen, 2012;O'Dea et al, 2014;Ringel et al, 2007).…”

“…Individual, regional and economic factors all impact on youth unemployment rates and disengagement from occupational role (Baum and Mitchell, 2008). Individually, young people are at higher risk of disengagement if they are male, have a history of criminality, use cannabis or other illicit substances and experience higher rates of depressive symptoms (O'Dea et al, 2014;Ringel et al, 2007). Other mental health risk factors such as psychotic-like experiences and distress have also been associated with greater disability, including unemployment (Hannan et al, 1997;Scott et al, 2006;Yung et al, 2006).…”

“…Ongoing unemployment in young people can reduce quality of life, increase ill health and social exclusion and is associated with severe levels of disadvantage through financial strain and poverty (Baum and Mitchell, 2008;McKee-Ryan et al, 2005;Morris and Wilson, 2014). Young people experiencing distress and emerging mental illnesses are particularly vulnerable to employment instability with rates of unemployment or NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) between 19% and 29% (O'Dea et al, 2014;Rickwood et al, 2014), compared with 13% of 20-24 year olds in the general youth population (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2015).…”