The Ozark Trails Young Adult Treatment Program
Mental Health for 18–21-Year-Old Men & Women
The Finest Clinical Care with Exciting Outdoor Adventures for Young Adults
Ozark Trails Academy introduces a groundbreaking treatment program for young adults 18 to 21. During the time after high school, when young people have more responsibility for college or their new vocation, young adults have unique mental health needs.
The Ozark Trails Young Adult Treatment Program addresses these needs with its expert staff of licensed clinical therapists.
Understanding Brain Development
Because the neurobiological development of young adult brains continues until they reach the age of 25, transitional-age youth have unique mental and emotional needs.
The term transitional age youth (TAY) originated from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) because of early awareness of the lack of developmentally appropriate services and support for youth exiting foster care by “aging out.”
The increased vulnerability during this age span, or 16 to 25, includes the need to develop personal independence, which without positive coaching or support, may not happen.
Young adults must learn self-management and good choices that support a healthy lifestyle. When they experience life stresses, including separation from the family unit and forming an individual identity, transitional-age youth may experience relapsing depression.
During this stage of life, young adults often face substance abuse and sexual trauma, increasing the risk of personal suicide—one of the leading causes of death.
Without proper guidance and support, young adults remain vulnerable to making poor choices that negatively impact their bodies, minds, and souls.
Impact of Life Experiences
As the study of brain development continues, psychiatrists and clinical therapists recognize that the nucleus accumbency—the site for motivation and pleasure, and the amygdala, which integrates positive and unpleasant emotional reactions, may develop ahead of the prefrontal areas that manage attention control and mood regulation.
Studies show that life experiences modify the brain’s emotional regulation, which suggests treatment and therapies can be used to positively shape the brain’s structures during the transitional age youth (TAY) years.
Despite the frequency of suicidality in the population, studies have shown that most (60%–80%) TAY are not in treatment and 18–21-year-olds were less likely to receive individual therapy than 16–17-year-olds.
Since 1995, SAMHSA grants have encouraged projects, drawing attention to services and systems of care for foster care youth and those aged 16 to 25 years old at risk of severe mental health conditions.
In childhood, mental health issues often persist into adulthood, requiring youth to transition from child and adolescent mental health services to adult mental health services at 18 years. Discontinuity of care during this transition period is well-documented and can leave youth vulnerable to adverse mental health outcomes.
For example, when young adult ages out of the foster care system and suddenly finds themself all on their own to find housing, meals, and employment, they must discover dedicated emotional support.
And young adults with mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety disorder, suicidality, alcohol dependence, and substance dependence, must continue to receive treatment and counseling. But few young adults in this situation know what to do, and they’re reluctant to ask for help.
SAMSHA wants to raise awareness of this problem and share statistics showing why young adults may need continued treatment and clinical therapy as they mature.
For example, substance use and substance use disorders (SUDs) are highest in the TAY age group; 63% of young adults have tried an illicit drug, and 37% have tried an illegal drug other than cannabis.
Several factors put TAY with prior diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder at greater risk for destabilization when in a college or university setting, including substance use and sexual assaults on campus.
Young adults also benefit from informed support that helps them achieve their employment goals. Combining the care of their mental health with employment training and opportunities can result in improved health and social outcomes for transition-age youth.
Ozark Trails Young Adult Treatment Program
The trained staff and clinical therapists at Ozark Trails realize that this specific age group needs to continue healing through therapy and change their hearts to find purpose in their lives, relationships, and vocation.
Ozark Trails now accepts young adults, 18 to 21 years old, into our groundbreaking treatment youth program. Young men and women will participate in various adventurous activities and mentor younger residents at Ozark Trails Academy.
These young adults will also receive clinical therapy to treat life-altering issues and benefit from treatment that continues to improve their brain development.
In addition to therapy, young adults can improve academic performance through Ozark Trails accredited online classes for credit recovery and earn high school and higher education credits as needed.
Residents of the Young Adult Treatment program will also live on-campus as part of the Ozark Trails family and our trained staff.
For more information on this new opportunity for young adults ages 18-21, please call us at Ozark Trails Academy near Willow Springs, MO, at (417) 278-6868. We look forward to helping you find hope and purpose in your young adult’s life now and in the future!
