Educationally Disadvantaged Older Youth: Mental Health

Mental health disorders can impair an individual's ability to function cognitively, socially, emotionally, or independently. Even though none of the programs in this synthesis specifically targets mental health, one study did measure mental health outcomes. That study, of the New Chance program, found that participants fared worse on measures of mental health outcomes at the 42-month follow-up than their counterparts in the control group. Specifically, participants in New Chance were more likely to be at risk of depression, to feel stressed, and to experience parenting stress, and they were less likely to be satisfied with their standard of living (NC1).