Double Whammy? Rural Youth With Serious Emotional Disturbance and the Transition to Adulthood

Abstract

Services are needed to support the transition to adulthood for youth at high risk of behavioral and adjustment problems. Systems to support coordinated planning and accountability are needed, including data on populations and services, and research on transition-age youth.

Change and Stability of Emotional Health of Rural Pennsylvania Youth During High School

“…Rural areas often are portrayed as rich in family networks and local community support for youth, although this image does not hold for all youth in rural areas, or for all rural areas. In addition, rural areas have documented shortages in health care providers, especially those providing mental health services . Because the context for rural youth may be quite different from that for urban and suburban youth, it is important to separately examine the emotional health and change in emotional health of rural youth.…”

“…In addition, rural areas have documented shortages in health care providers, especially those providing mental health services. 9,45,46 Because the context for rural youth may be quite different from that for urban and suburban youth, it is important to separately examine the emotional health and change in emotional health of rural youth. Our analysis provides important details regarding how rural youth move across different emotional health statuses over time, and whether youth who have different family, school, and peer influences differ qualitatively in their emotional health status.…”

“…As youth in rural areas make the transition to adulthood, fewer opportunities for jobs and higher education in rural areas make it more likely that rural youth will need to move to other areas to achieve their educational and career goals. This impending change can leave youth with feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, and/or excitement . Moreover, issues related to geographic isolation and poverty, such as transportation difficulties and limited access to physical and mental health services, may lead to lack of timely intervention when youth experience emotional problems and have access to few or no programs promoting emotional well‐being .…”

“…9 Moreover, issues related to geographic isolation and poverty, such as transportation difficulties and limited access to physical and mental health services, may lead to lack of timely intervention when youth experience emotional problems and have access to few or no programs promoting emotional well-being. 9,10 Understanding the patterns and changes in emotional health of rural adolescents during high school can assist counselors, teachers, parents, and health practitioners to identify potential problems and to help youth to seek treatment. This knowledge also would assist practitioners to develop programs to help youth and their families to understand the issues rural youth face and to help them in resolving likely conflicts and concerns that affect rural adolescents' emotional wellbeing.…”

“…This impending change can leave youth with feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, and/or excitement . Moreover, issues related to geographic isolation and poverty, such as transportation difficulties and limited access to physical and mental health services, may lead to lack of timely intervention when youth experience emotional problems and have access to few or no programs promoting emotional well‐being . Understanding the patterns and changes in emotional health of rural adolescents during high school can assist counselors, teachers, parents, and health practitioners to identify potential problems and to help youth to seek treatment.…”