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Early Intervention and Youth Mental Health: Synergistic Paradigms to Transform Mental Health Outcomes

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Book cover Innovations in Global Mental Health

Abstract

Early intervention in mental health is increasingly recognized as one of the best opportunities to alter the trajectory of mental illness and to improve patient outcomes. Young people demonstrate the highest incidence, prevalence, and burden of mental illness, making them a key population target for early intervention. Despite their need for care, young people have demonstrated low levels of service access and engagement. Traditional models of care, which reflect neither the pattern of mental disorder onset nor the unique cultural and developmental needs of young people, have formed a barrier to accessing timely mental health care by young people. The creation of a youth mental health stream that provides early intervention within a holistic and preventive framework is transforming the mental health care of adolescents and young adults. In this chapter, we provide an overview of this transformation, including the rationale, outcomes, and future directions of early intervention in youth mental health.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In this chapter, the term “young adult” refers to individuals aged between 20 and 25 years, while “adolescent” refers to those aged up to 19 years. The terms “youth” and “young people” are used interchangeably to refer to individuals aged between 12 and 25 years.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Orygen, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Cristina Mei, Eóin Killackey, Andrew Chanen & Patrick D. McGorry

  2. Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Cristina Mei, Eóin Killackey, Andrew Chanen & Patrick D. McGorry

Authors
  1. Cristina Mei
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  2. Eóin Killackey
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  3. Andrew Chanen
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  4. Patrick D. McGorry
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Correspondence to Patrick D. McGorry .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Health, Culture and Society, Vanderbilt University Center for Health, Nashville, TN, USA

    Sam Okpaku

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Mei, C., Killackey, E., Chanen, A., McGorry, P.D. (2020). Early Intervention and Youth Mental Health: Synergistic Paradigms to Transform Mental Health Outcomes. In: Okpaku, S. (eds) Innovations in Global Mental Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70134-9_77-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70134-9_77-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-70134-9

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