| Summary: | Background: Emerging adulthood (EA) is a developmental period between the ages of 18-29 that is characterized by numerous life transitions, as well as high rates of psychological distress and onset of several psychological disorders. Despite a high need for mental health services, EA are more likely to disengage from psychological treatment than other age groups, prompting a national policy review on mental health care systems and EA. Lack of comprehensive research on mental health needs and service use patterns among EA, as well as gaps in coordinated care across health systems, were two major issues identified in the report. To address these gaps, this thesis focuses on investigating clinical characteristics among EA receiving care in inpatient psychiatry, emergency departments (EDs), and community mental health agencies across Canada, with a particular focus on issues related to anxiety. Study one: While several research studies have explored mental health trends among EA in general and post-secondary settings, relatively little is known about individuals accessing formal mental health services. To determine clinical needs and service use patterns among EA in these settings, interRAI mental health assessment data for 18- to 35-year-olds were obtained from three sources: 1) Resident Assessment Instrument – Mental Health (RAI-MH) data from all inpatient psychiatric hospitals and units across Ontario between 2005-2019 (n=85,762); 2) Community Mental Health (CMH) data from participating agencies across Ontario between 2005-2006 and 2017-2019, as well as Newfoundland between 2012-2014 (n=2,548) and; 3) Emergency Screener for Psychiatry (ESP) data from participating departments across Ontario between 2013-2014 and 2018-2019 (n=1,368). While clinical needs did not vary greatly across age groups within EA, a notable exception was observed for substance use, with more non-primary substance use disorders and recent cannabis use among those aged 18-25. Across care settings, clinical characteristics often reflected ...
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