Key service components for age-appropriate mental health service planning for young adults

To identify and describe key service components that should be incorporated into age-appropriate integrated mental health care for young adults aged 18-24 years.

Key service components were identified through a mixed-methods approach including targeted examinations of the literature and structured discussions with experts in youth mental health.

Seven key components were identified as important for providing age-appropriate mental health care to young adults. Two were classified as clinical service components (structured psychological therapies; care coordination and liaison), three were classified as non-clinical service components (vocational support; youth development; peer support) and two as integrated non-clinical and clinical service components (lifestyle interventions and family and network support). Example service models for each of these key service components were identified and described.

This is the first study to identify and describe key service components for age-appropriate mental health care for young adults. The findings provide mental health service planners with a framework of services that should be considered when planning and resourcing services for this age range.