Inklusiv Plus: Mental Health Of Unemployed Adolescents And Young Adults

Overview

The expansion project "Inclusive Plus", which is financed by Innosuisse, is based on a pilot project. The psychotherapeutic offer developed in the previous project for psychologically burdened adolescents and young adults to support them in their professional integration was revised and supplemented and is being reviewed in this project. In addition to the group psychotherapeutic intervention, 5 one-on-one interviews are offered as needed. In addition, regular further training courses on mental health and illness in adolescence are implemented. And finally, a conference is to promote cooperation between referring physicians and bridge offers. The intervention will be implemented in 5 cantons (Zurich, Berne, Lucerne, St. Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden) and in 7 different bridge services. The program is aimed at adolescents and young adults between 16 and 29 years of age who have sufficient knowledge of German. Participation is voluntary and the group size for the psychotherapy group is limited to 8 participants. The main question is whether the integration of young people with mental stress into the labor market is more successful. At three points in time (entry, exit, six months after exit) changes in selected indicators (including work ability, mental health, functional status, behaviour in seeking help) are measured. In addition, changes in the groups of participants will be surveyed. The implementation of the psychotherapy groups in the respective bridge offers will take place in autumn 2020, and the study will be completed with the last follow-up by the end of 2022.

In Switzerland, almost one in six young people has no further professional solution after the compulsory school years. So-called bridge offers have been created for these young people. Despite these offers, adolescents and young adults with multiple burdens often do not find a training place or job. Young people who have not found a follow-up solution are significantly more likely to suffer from mental impairments and disorders than those who begin an apprenticeship or attend secondary school. According to Sabatella and von Wyl, this may be due on the one hand to the fact that a lack of an apprenticeship places a psychological burden on them. On the other hand, it can be assumed that many young people do not find an apprenticeship or job precisely because of a mental illness. Furthermore, the psychological impairments and illnesses are often not recognized or treated. This is probably due to the fact that young people often fail to make use of appropriate psychotherapeutic services, on the one hand because of the fear of being stigmatized, and on the other hand because they often seem to lack the insight to need and make use of help. The problem of mental stress and illness in adolescence is also reflected in IV consultations. The rate of new pensioners is significantly higher among 18 to 19-year-olds. Early treatment without delay can positively influence the course of an illness. In contrast, it has been shown that the longer people wait to treat a mental illness, the greater the risk of chronification. Therefore, treatment of mental illness is especially important for young people. The further development of these young people is not - as often feared - impaired. On the contrary, their professional and personal future prospects become more positive. As a result, cases of full retirement can be reduced, which has a positive effect on health costs. Against this background, the pilot project "inclusive", which preceded this project and was financed by the Gebert Rüf Foundation, was carried out. In cooperation with the bridge offer lifetime health, an innovative approach for a better integration of work was developed, applied and tested for two years: The existing care team of lifetime health was supplemented by a psychotherapist who conducted a 90-minute weekly group psychotherapy session with the young clients of lifetime health. He was also in contact with the team and the clients as needed. This (group) psychotherapeutic offer developed in the previous project for mentally burdened adolescents and young adults to support them in their professional integration was revised and supplemented. In the current project phase it is being implemented in 7 further bridge offers in five cantons. For an initial assessment of whether such an offer is also suitable for adults, a group is also offered for adults at one of the locations. The project is financed by Innosuisse.