Mental health treatment and access for emerging adults in Canada: a systematic review

IntroductionResearch into the mental healthcare of emerging adults (18–25) in Canada has been limited, despite this developmental period being widely considered a vulnerable time of life. As such, we aimed to identify the greatest barriers emerging adults faced in accessing mental healthcare in Cana...

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Main Authors: Jonah Kynan Murray, Sarah Knudson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1088999/full
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author Jonah Kynan Murray
Sarah Knudson
author_facet Jonah Kynan Murray
Sarah Knudson
author_sort Jonah Kynan Murray
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionResearch into the mental healthcare of emerging adults (18–25) in Canada has been limited, despite this developmental period being widely considered a vulnerable time of life. As such, we aimed to identify the greatest barriers emerging adults faced in accessing mental healthcare in Canada, particularly in relation to the Canadian healthcare system which operates on a universal funding model but is challenged by funding shortfalls and a complex relationship to the provinces.MethodsWe systematically examined 28 pieces of literature, including academic and technical literature and publications from government organizations, focused on emerging adults and the Canadian mental healthcare system.ResultsFindings demonstrated that stigma, a lack of mental health knowledge, cost, and interpersonal factors (e.g., one’s parental, peer, and romantic supports demonstrating negative views toward mental healthcare may deter treatment; emerging adults demonstrating concerns that accessing mental healthcare may lead to peer rejection) acted as barriers to help-seeking in emerging adults. Additionally, a lack of national institutional cohesion and a lack of policy pertaining to emerging adult healthcare acted as barriers to adequate mental healthcare in this demographic.DiscussionImproving mental health education early in life shows promise at reducing many of the barriers emerging adults face in accessing mental healthcare. Further, policies directed at ensuring a cohesive national mental health system, as well as policies directly designed to care for emerging adult mental health needs, could act as the next steps toward ensuring an accessible and effective Canadian mental healthcare system that can serve as a model for other nations.
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spelling doaj.art-5c30068b72084f6088475dcb4fe64d4e2023-07-13T03:50:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652023-07-011110.3389/fpubh.2023.10889991088999Mental health treatment and access for emerging adults in Canada: a systematic reviewJonah Kynan Murray0Sarah Knudson1Department of Psychology & Health Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, CanadaSt. Thomas More College, Saskatoon, SK, CanadaIntroductionResearch into the mental healthcare of emerging adults (18–25) in Canada has been limited, despite this developmental period being widely considered a vulnerable time of life. As such, we aimed to identify the greatest barriers emerging adults faced in accessing mental healthcare in Canada, particularly in relation to the Canadian healthcare system which operates on a universal funding model but is challenged by funding shortfalls and a complex relationship to the provinces.MethodsWe systematically examined 28 pieces of literature, including academic and technical literature and publications from government organizations, focused on emerging adults and the Canadian mental healthcare system.ResultsFindings demonstrated that stigma, a lack of mental health knowledge, cost, and interpersonal factors (e.g., one’s parental, peer, and romantic supports demonstrating negative views toward mental healthcare may deter treatment; emerging adults demonstrating concerns that accessing mental healthcare may lead to peer rejection) acted as barriers to help-seeking in emerging adults. Additionally, a lack of national institutional cohesion and a lack of policy pertaining to emerging adult healthcare acted as barriers to adequate mental healthcare in this demographic.DiscussionImproving mental health education early in life shows promise at reducing many of the barriers emerging adults face in accessing mental healthcare. Further, policies directed at ensuring a cohesive national mental health system, as well as policies directly designed to care for emerging adult mental health needs, could act as the next steps toward ensuring an accessible and effective Canadian mental healthcare system that can serve as a model for other nations.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1088999/fullemerging adulthoodmental healthhealthcareCanadahealth education
spellingShingle Jonah Kynan Murray
Sarah Knudson
Mental health treatment and access for emerging adults in Canada: a systematic review
Frontiers in Public Health
emerging adulthood
mental health
healthcare
Canada
health education
title Mental health treatment and access for emerging adults in Canada: a systematic review
title_full Mental health treatment and access for emerging adults in Canada: a systematic review
title_fullStr Mental health treatment and access for emerging adults in Canada: a systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Mental health treatment and access for emerging adults in Canada: a systematic review
title_short Mental health treatment and access for emerging adults in Canada: a systematic review
title_sort mental health treatment and access for emerging adults in canada a systematic review
topic emerging adulthood
mental health
healthcare
Canada
health education
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1088999/full
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