Better than Expected: Young Adults’ Perceptions of Community Living after Children’s Residential Mental Health Treatment

ABSTRACT Many youth may make progress while accessing residential mental health treatment, though their outcomes post-discharge are varied. While some youth continue to struggle in the post-discharge environment, some are succeeding. The purpose of this report is to explore the perspectives of emerging adults who are succeeding following residential treatment about their daily functioning and life domains. In total 21 youth (mean age 20.3 years) described positive relationships with families, friends, and coworkers, success in completing school or securing employment, and using strategies to manage ongoing mental health challenges. These findings are consistent with resilience theory and may inform intervention during and after residential treatment.