List of Chronic Diseases for Young Adults – Add Mental Health!

By Claire Thayer, December 13, 2015

When we think about chronic conditions, we typically think about chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc. But rarely is mental health thought of as a chronic condition. According to data in the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 11.9 percent of young adults aged 18 to 25 received mental health services in the past year

It’s interesting to note that 42.3 percent of young adults who received mental health services in the past year are receiving prescription medication as their only mental health service.

A recent Health Affairs blog, The Forgotten Chronic Disease: Mental Health Among Teens And Young Adults, identified 5 primary barriers in obtaining needed mental health treatment:

• Stigma
• Inadequate screening by primary care providers
• Trouble finding treatment
• Failure to implement evidence-based therapies
• Slow implementation of research findings

Additional information:

The CBHSQ Report, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). December 8, 2015.

The Forgotten Chronic Disease: Mental Health Among Teens And Young Adults. Health Affairs Blog. October 1, 2015.

Mental Health Myths and Facts. MentalHealth.gov U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.