In most healthcare systems, turning 18 means transitioning from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to adult mental health services. This transition occurs at precisely the time when young people face multiple life changes and heightened vulnerability, and when biopsychosocial development is still ongoing. This arbitrary boundary creates challenges for young people, including disrupted therapeutic relationships, misaligned service approaches, and potential disengagement of support when it is most needed (Appleton et al., 2021; Broad et al., 2017; Hill et al., 2019).

As a practitioner focused journal, Child Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry has consistently published research highlighting the importance of developmentally appropriate care. Despite the journal’s name, its scope is explicitly on understanding emotional well-being, mental health and treatment issues for children, adolescents and young adults, aged 0 – 25 years. This editorial reiterates the argument made by many others (McGorry et al., 2024; Walker-Harding et al., 2017) about why young adults (age 18–25) should not be included with working adults but considered in their own right.

Authored by Maria Elizabeth Loades