RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Aug 7, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Forty-eight
percent of young U.S. adults maltreated as children have mental health problems,
but less than one-quarter get treatment, researchers say.
"The results show the strong need for 'transition' services beginning in
adolescence and continuing through young adulthood," lead author Heather
Ringeisen of Research Triangle International, a research institute in Research
Triangle Park, N. C., said in a statement.
"Young adults need services to help facilitate development into adulthood and
support transition from child- to adult-oriented mental health services."
The study looked at more than 600 young adults selected from the National Survey
of Child and Adolescent Well-Being -- a national probability study of children
for whom maltreatment was investigated.
The study, published in the journal Psychiatric Services, found their use of
specialty mental health services decreased as the youth became adults --
declining from 47.6 percent to 14.3 percent. Those without Medicaid insurance
and nonwhites were even less likely to use outpatient mental health services.
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