Young Adults
Young adulthood is a time of significant personal growth and change.
During the period between the ages of 18 and 25, you might be continuing your education, starting a career, beginning to explore serious relationships, and becoming more independent from your family.
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Connect with a NAMI chapter near you
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In need of help or support?
NAMI has a helpline specifically for teens and young adults. Get immediate support by calling, texting or emailing.
The changes and decisions that often define this period of life can feel challenging, stressful, and overwhelming for everyone.
This is also the time when many people start experiencing mental health symptoms, as most mental health conditions present by age 25 or earlier.1
It can be complicated to determine if what you are experiencing is a mental health condition beyond the typical stress or challenges of growing into adulthood. There are no blood tests or x-rays that can diagnose mental health conditions, and many indicators or symptoms of conditions overlap. For example, difficulty concentrating can be the result of a minor inconvenience or indicative of a more serious issue.
This lack of clarity can lead to delays in identifying symptoms of mental health conditions and deciding on the best course of care and support.
If you start to experience mental health symptoms that are affecting your everyday life, it is essential to seek help as soon as you can. There are many forms of support and care. The first step is gaining a better understanding of what you are experiencing in order to find the right treatment for you.
New Infographics Available!
Our 2020 Mental Health by the Numbers illustrate the unique set of challenges youth and young adults experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. We must recognize the significant impact of these experiences on young people’s mental health — and the importance of providing the education, care and support they need.
We want to hear your story
Tell us how mental illness has affected your life. What has been challenging? What has been helpful to you?
Do I Have a Mental Health Condition?
If you’re struggling with your mental health, the first step is determining if what you are experiencing is “normal” or whether it might be a symptom of an underlying mental health condition.
How to Disclose Your Mental Health Condition
When it comes to disclosing the details of our mental health, there is no “right” way to share. Read our tips on how to talk about your mental health to your university, employer, and significant other.
How to Seek Help
Seeking care for your mental health can be daunting as there are so many different types of treatment and it’s hard to know what you need. Learn the basics of how to search for the right mental health professional for you.
Mental Health in College
To help support your success in college, it’s important to prioritize your mental health. Explore our suggestions for managing your mental health during this time of greater independence and responsibility.
Using Health Insurance for the First Time
Health insurance can be deeply confusing. There are different types of plans and many ways to receive insurance. Read more to develop a better understanding of health insurance and what plan is right for you.
- Kessler RC, Amminger GP, Aguilar-Gaxiola S, Alonso J, Lee S, Ustün TB. Age of onset of mental disorders: a review of recent literature. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2007 Jul;20(4):359-64. doi: 10.1097/YCO.0b013e32816ebc8c. PMID: 17551351; PMCID: PMC1925038. ↩︎