How to Help Your Teen Transition to Adult Mental Health Care

Steps Involved in Transition Planning

The following steps can help you identify where your teen is in their readiness for responsibility as well as how to increase their autonomy in treatment. 

Assess What Your Teen Can Already Manage

Before building a transition plan, it may be helpful to take note of what your teen already does independently. Some young adults may already be comfortable speaking with their therapist or requesting prescription refills. In contrast, other young adults may feel overwhelmed by simply making a phone call.

Build Independence Over Time

After assessing what your teen can already manage, it may be helpful to focus on gradually increasing responsibility and independence. 

A teen who has never scheduled their own appointment may not suddenly become comfortable managing an entire treatment team right when they turn 18. Therefore, practices that slowly build upon each other may be helpful. 

For example, a parent might begin by sitting beside their teen while they call the therapist’s office. Then they can progress to the teen making the call while the parent remains available nearby for questions. And finally, the young person can build up to handling their scheduling independently. 

Small challenges and changes matter because they can give teens the opportunity to practice and build confidence while support is still nearby. 

The same approach can be used for:

• Prescription refills.
• Insurance calls.
• Filling out paperwork.
• Transportation planning.

Create a Mental Health Care Summary

Before changing providers, it may be helpful to assist your teen in creating a brief record of important health information. This document should ultimately belong to the young adult and be stored somewhere they can easily access it. 

The document may include:

• Current diagnosis.
• Current medications and dosages.
• Previous medications and why they were changed.
• Any allergies.
• Current members of their treatment team.
• Treatment history.
• Prior hospitalizations or higher levels of care.
• Helpful and unhelpful therapies.
• Relevant medical conditions.
• Emergency contacts.
• Insurance information.

Plan the Therapist Transition 

Some therapists work with both teens and adults, so turning 18 does not always require changing therapists. However, other providers may specialize in treating children or teens and may have an age limit. 

It might be helpful to ask the current therapist if they can continue seeing the teen after age 18. If not, then having a general idea of when treatment needs to end will help with planning for the transition. 

The current therapist may also have recommendations for adult therapists and be willing to coordinate with the new provider. They might also be able to provide insight into whether it’s appropriate for there to be a brief overlap between providers. 

Avoid presenting the change as simply administrative and consider giving your teen room to talk about what it means to end a therapeutic relationship. This ending can sometimes feel like genuine loss, especially if your teen has worked with their current provider for the long term. 

If possible, begin searching for an adult-centered provider before the existing therapeutic relationship ends so that your teen is not left without care. 

Plan the Transition From a Child to an Adult Psychiatrist 

Psychiatric care transitions deserve an increased level of attention because a gap in care can lead to mental health difficulties, especially if medication runs out or prescriptions require monitoring. You could consider working with your teen around things like: 

• Asking the current psychiatrist how long they can continue seeing them.
• Determining who will provide refills during the transition.
• Finding out if records can be sent to the new provider. 

Help Your Teen Learn How to Manage Their Medication

When it comes to medications, a young adult should gradually learn:

• The name(s) of the medication(s) they take.
• The dosages.
• When to take the medication.
• The purpose of the prescription.
• Which pharmacy fills it.
• When a refill is due.
• How to contact their prescriber.
• What to do if they miss a dose.

Your teen may also benefit from medication management strategies such as phone reminders, pill organizers, automatic pharmacy refills, or a written medication list. 

Understand That Privacy Changes at 18

After a young person turns 18, the parents typically lose access to the teen’s health information. Young adults can choose to sign releases, which allow providers to communicate with parents, but they may also decide that certain therapy conversations or details should remain private. 

Discussing this before your teen’s 18th birthday can help set clear expectations for both you and your teen. The conversation might also include asking if they’d like you to remain involved in medication appointments or what they would like you to know during a mental health crisis. 

Try not to take it personally if they decide they would like more autonomy – this is a natural part of becoming an adult and wanting more confidentiality in treatment. 

Build the Adult Mental Health Care Team Before It Is Needed

Many parents find it helpful to have an adult mental health care team in place before the teen turns 18 or before a crisis occurs. A coordinated transfer matters because young adults with ongoing health needs can be vulnerable to becoming lost in the follow-up process after leaving pediatric care.^[2]

Create a Crisis Plan

Transition planning should include what to do in the event of a mental health crisis. This plan should be created collaboratively with your teen and should include:

• Early warning signs of a crisis.
• Coping skills that usually help.
• People the young adult trusts.
• Crisis resources.
• Treatment team information.
• Current medication list.
• Circumstances that require immediate emergency help.

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department if there is an immediate risk of harm. You can also call or text 988 for crisis support.

What If Your Teen Is Not Ready to Manage Care Independently?

Some young adults will need a slower transition process or substantial family involvement. If your teen has functional limitations that make independent health decisions difficult, talk with the treatment team about available supports before your teen turns 18.

You can also provide the scaffolding they need to build this level of independence. By following the steps discussed, you’re helping them take responsibility without having to completely take over necessary tasks. Their treatment team can also be made aware of any transition difficulties they’re experiencing, so they can advise on the best approach for you and your child.