Inside STAT: Facing a broken mental health system, many teens fall off a 'cliff' in care

(MARIA FABRIZIO FOR STAT)

While turning 18 can usher in a lot of exciting beginnings, in mental health circles, it's also known as "the cliff," when teens with mental health conditions are flung into adulthood without much preparation for the challenges it will bring. For a new story, STAT's Megan Thielking spoke with teenagers, young adults, mental health providers, and experts across the country to better understand the difficulties that the transition to adulthood has brought. Some young adults shared, for instance, that they were unprepared for navigating the mental health landscape, such as finding a therapist. “We’re missing out on this major opportunity to support young people while mental health distress is emerging,” psychiatrist Christine Moutier tells Megan. Read more here.