The current understanding of the adolescent brain is pointing to the existence of a developmental period in which there is both increased vulnerability to negative environmental experiences and enhanced receptivity to positive, including therapeutic, life experiences – both of which may carry long- term consequences for adult life.
YoungMinds, a UK-based organization for children and adolescent mental health care has released "A Work in Progress: the Adolescent and Young Adult Brain," (pdf file) a short paper that emphasizes the need for specialized mental health care for people between the ages of 16 – 25.
Given how many of us experienced the first onset of our illness during this time period I am always suprised by the lack of attention given to the subject of mental health care for the young. Hopefully, the work of YoungMinds will provide some much-needed awareness.
Thanks to Mental Health Update
