The Growing Needs for Young Adults’ Behavioral Health Services in Oregon and Pathways for Sustainable Service Deliveries

Authors

• Anis ZamanFollow

Keywords

Behavioral Health, Young Adult, mental health, sustainable service delivery, Oregon

Abstract

Recent OHA data indicate a significant surge in behavioral health cases among young adults ages 17-26 across Oregon. Every year in Oregon, the total number of young adults receiving medical treatment includes a significant number of them who have behavioral health challenges. This large group of young adults with mental health conditions is vulnerable to suicidal ideation and substance overdose. Despite sincere efforts by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), the young adult mental health state of Oregon remains a concern. Therefore, there is a need for a comprehensive action plan for the sustainable delivery of mental health services to young adults in Oregon. The urgent need for rapid expansion of Young Adult-specific Behavioral Health (BH) services is obvious. However, such expansion requires changes in Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR), service provisions, sustainable workforce, community awareness, political and economic commitment, and sustained funding. This policy paper examines the prevailing behavioral health services for young adults in Oregon to understand the range of age-appropriate behavioral health service needs for them. This paper also proposes an action plan for Oregon to ensure sustainable, affordable, and accessible behavioral health services for young adults.

Keywords: Behavioral Health, Young Adult, Mental Health, Sustainable Service Delivery, Oregon.

Publication Date

7-9-2026

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Zaman, Anis (2026) "The Growing Needs for Young Adults’ Behavioral Health Services in Oregon and Pathways for Sustainable Service Deliveries," Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs: Vol. 10: Iss. 1, Article 5.