The Age of Uncertainty: Parent Perspectives on the Transitions of Young People with Mental Health Difficulties to Adulthood

Abstract

For young people aged 16-24, the transition from adolescence to young adulthood involves predictable and unpredictable changes and they may encounter challenges in their roles, relationships, and responsibilities. Young people with mental health difficulties face additional challenges as they and their families navigate this transition. As a result, families commonly experience anxiety, uncertainty, frustration, and turbulent relationships. After learning to become advocates to secure appropriate services for their children, in late adolescence and young adulthood, parents are likely to find themselves excluded from their children's treatment planning and services. This article reports findings from a recent qualitative study of the experiences and perceptions of 42 family members supporting their children with mental health difficulties during the transition years. Family members described their goals for their children, their frustrations trying to access appropriate services for their children, and their strategies to provide the support their children needed. Recommendations are for service providers to connect transition age youth with practical assistance and supportive mentoring relationships. Family members requested service providers to consider them as resources and potential collaborators in supporting young people with mental health difficulties to live successful lives in the community.

Perceptions of Family Environment and Wraparound Processes: Associations with Age and Implications for Serving Transitioning Youth in Systems of Care

“…In contrast, studies of youth with mental health conditions and their families suggest that conflict may persist and even escalate as adolescents age, or it may decrease, but due to disengagement of caregivers rather than resolution of associated issues (e.g., Davis and Butler 2002). Although many youth continue to need significant support from their families well into their twenties, families of youth in SOCs may find it extremely challenging to provide this continued support (Jivanjee et al 2009). These families often face adversity from a variety of sources, including the cumulative stresses of caring for youth with significant mental health needs and, in many cases, the strains and stressors associated with poverty (Ward et al 2006).…”

“…Increases in behavior problems as youth approach transition (e.g., violence, other criminal behavior, substance use problems, status offenses such as truancy or running away) can complicate already strained relationships with parents, exacerbating conflict and motivating caregivers to withdraw support (Stewart et al 2002). As youth reach legal adulthood, parents may no longer feel they are as responsible for the well-being of their children, further increasing the likelihood that they will want to reduce or discontinue supporting their youth (Jivanjee et al 2009). Such issues could highlight the appropriateness of the wraparound approach in this population, given its emphasis on cultivating family and informal support.…”

“…It is possible that, just as some parents choose to disengage from their relationships with older adolescent youth, believing that they are no longer as responsible for the youth's well-being (Jivanjee et al 2009), providers and CFT facilitators may weaken their emphasis on working with and meeting needs of caregivers of older youth. Some recent evidence on differences in service utilization among families of older and younger youth in SOCs provides evidence to support this proposition.…”

Transition-Age Children With Mental Illness: Hearing the Voices of Mothers

“…Mother-blaming by professionals has been identified as a reason for dissatisfaction with services and as a cause for dropping out of services (Sommerfeld, 1989;Jackson & Mannix, 2004;Medina & Magnuson, 2009). Similarly, dissatisfaction with service providers was found by two research studies focused on parental perceptions of service delivery for their transition-age child (Jivanjee, Kruzich & Gordon, 2009;Clarke & Winsor, 2010). Both research studies described parents as actively engaged in their child's care while being dissatisfied with either the health services offered or the health service providers.…”

Youth Speak: increasing engagement of young people in mental health research

“…In North America, Jivanjee et al, (2009) established an advisory board of young people who provided assistance in all stages of a study focusing upon mental health and life transitions. Finally in Canada, Poland, Tupker and Breland (2002) hired six street-involved youth to conduct research among their peers to develop drug and harm reduction materials.…”