A working life on the horizon - Supported education for young adults with mental health problems

Supporting students with mental health problems to participate in education is critical for preventing long-termdisabilities and promoting employment. The age of onset for many psychiatric illnesses corresponds with early adulthood, a time when young adults are struggling to establish themselves, a challenge that most often involves some type of post- secondary education. A lack of supports adapted to the mental health needs of young adults has also been connected to the increasing number who are receiving early pensions and utilizing sheltered activities rather than pursuing their goals related to education and eventual work. Even research investigating outcomes related to evidence-based interventions such as Supported Employment has begun to suggest the need for more specific, career related, educational supports, as an essential aspect of supporting sustainable employment in a labor market that increasingly demands formal education or training. Supported Education is an intervention that supports functioning in varied academic environments and focuses on helping young adults to develop career goals by providing specific expertise, concrete supports and coordinated mental health services. Recent studies suggest a need to integrate these two models in order to achieve sustainable success in the labor market and to prevent a costly lifetime dependence on psychiatric and social services. The overall aim of this project is to develop knowledge regarding the components of Supported Education that are feasible to implement in a Swedish context and to study and evaluate the educational and recovery-related outcomes of these services, for young adults with mental health problems. It will consist of three studies, including a systematic review of existing literature and a survey of need in Sweden, both of which will contribute to the development of a model to be developed and tested in a Swedish context.