Open Access Rheumatology: Research and Reviews (Dec 2020)
Young Minds: Mental Health and Transitional Care in Adolescent and Young Adult Rheumatology
Abstract
Jason Palman,1 Janet E McDonagh1– 3 1Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust, Manchester M13 9WL, UK; 2Versus Arthritis Centre for Epidemiology; Centre for MSK Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; 3NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester, UKCorrespondence: Janet E McDonaghCentre for MSK Research, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, 2nd Floor, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT UKTel +44 161 275 1670Email [email protected]: Consideration of the mental health and emotional wellbeing is an important component of health care for all young people, irrespective of setting. Mental health disorders are common during adolescence and young adulthood and young people with rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) are not exempt. For such young people, risks of poor outcomes are related to both mental health as well as their RMD. Times of change during adolescence and young adulthood—transitions—are potentially vulnerable life stages for young people with RMD and warrant specific attention in health care provision. Such transitions include those occurring at puberty, during education, training, and employment, socially with moves away from the parental home, as well as from child to adult-centered health services. There is great potential for rheumatology professionals to support young people with RMD at these transitions in view of their frequent encounters and ongoing therapeutic relationships. In this review, we aim to assess the impact of mental health on RMD during adolescence and young adulthood with particular reference to transitional care provision and how rheumatology professionals can be involved in addressing mental health issues during this time of change.Keywords: adolescent, young adult, developmentally appropriate health care, transitional care, rheumatology, rheumatic musculoskeletal disease, mental health
