Abstract

Mental health symptoms among transitional age youth 18-26 years exiting jail in San Diego County

Victoria D. Ojeda, PhD, MPH¹, Emily Berliant, MPH², Sarah Hiller-Venegas, MPIA³, Cielo Jimenez, MA, MFT Assistant², Todd Edwards, PhD LMFT⁴, Sarah E. Linke, PhD, MPH², Tamara D. Parker, BA⁵, Maurice Lyles, BA² and Zephon Lister, PhD, LMFT²
(1)University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, (2)University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, (3)UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, (4)University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, (5)UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA

APHA's 2019 Annual Meeting and Expo (Nov. 2 - Nov. 6)

Introduction: Justice involved transition age youth (TAY) 18-26 years often experience mental health challenges. This study identifies mental health symptoms and significant correlates among a sample of TAY who are on probation from jail and participating in an evidence-based reentry intervention that includes health coaching and service navigation (UCSD RELINK). The program aims to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in health status/access to care by improving linkages to health/social services and health/wellness-related knowledge/skills/behaviors.

Methods: From 2017-2019, 90 TAY who are on probation from jail, reside in Southern San Diego County, and are participating in the UCSD RELINK program completed a comprehensive baseline needs assessment that includes measures of mental health symptomatology. Univariate linear regression identified prevalence of mental health symptoms and significant correlates.

Results: Participants were mostly male (80%), Latino (56%), African American (24%), non-Latino white (12%); 23% were parents and 18% were ever in foster care. Overall 59% of participants reported mild to severe depression symptoms, per the PHQ9 scale; 40% reported anxiety symptoms per the GAD2 scale and 33% reported more than 3 adverse childhood events (ACEs).

In univariate analyses, women (Odds Ratio: 4.1, 95% CI: 1.4-12.4) and food insecure (OR: 4.2, 95% CI: 1.5-11.7) participants were more likely to experience moderate to severe depression symptoms as were those experiencing anxiety (OR: 14.0, 95% CI: 4.2-46.8), 3+ ACEs (OR: 6.5, 95% CI: 2.3-18.2), and persistent trauma (OR: 10.5, 95% CI: 3.5, 31.2). Participants who slept 8+ hours were less likely to experience moderate to severe depression (OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.08-0.89).

Conclusion. Justice-involved TAY experience multiple and overlapping mental health and life challenges which may contribute to or be a product of their interactions with the criminal justice system. Given their unique developmental stage, TAY reentrants stand to benefit from tailored mental health services as part of their community reintegration process.

Epidemiology Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs Public health or related public policy