Young adults with serious mental health conditions experience a unique set of challenges as they transition to adulthood and navigate school, training, and work. This three-part series will first provide audience members with a general understanding of this population, then describe how this group navigates school, training, and work, and conclude with an important consideration of how services can and should consider young adults needs from a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens. Information from these webinars can help providers and policy makers better understand how to effectively support this population.

PART 2: SUPPORTING THE EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EMPLOYMENT PURSUITS OF YOUNG ADULTS WITH SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS Young adults (ages 16-30) with serious mental health conditions (SMHC) struggle to persist in their education, training, and employment pursuits. Young adults increasingly navigate diverse pathways through post-secondary school and work, but compared to their peers, young adults with SMHC struggle to complete high school, complete post-secondary education programs, and establish strong working histories. Young adulthood is a critical period in one’s career trajectory and early delays are increasingly hard to overcome. This webinar will describe the non-linear school, training, and work activities of young adults with SMHC and the barriers and facilitators they commonly encounter when trying to continually pursue these activities. By identifying factors that influence young adults’ ability to pursue school, training, and work, service providers and families can more effectively help young adults set themselves up for success.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Describe the non-linear school, training, and work activities of young adults with SMHC
• Describe common barriers and facilitators young adults with SMHC encounter while navigating school, training, and work
• Discuss ways in which service providers, employers, and parents can better support young adults with SMHC