Transition-Age Youth
Individuals typically aged 16–25 who are moving from adolescent to adult mental health, education, or social service systems, a population requiring specialised community psychiatric support.
Full Definition
Transition-Age Youth (TAY) refers to a developmental cohort navigating the simultaneous challenges of young adulthood and mental health conditions, often characterised by interrupted service continuity as they age out of child-serving systems. In community psychiatry, TAY services address the elevated risk of service disengagement, homelessness, and substance use that coincides with this transition. The age range is defined variably by state and programme—commonly 16–25—and editors should confirm the operating definition used in any given document. Editors must distinguish 'Transition-Age Youth' as a population descriptor from 'TAY services,' which refers specifically to programmes designed for this group, and should not abbreviate without prior expansion.
Usage
Usage note: Do not abbreviate as TAY without first expanding the full term. Age range must be specified in programme documents as it varies by funder and jurisdiction.
In Context
- "The programme was specifically designed to address the needs of Transition-Age Youth who have aged out of the foster care system." — Grant proposal narrative
- "Eligibility criteria define Transition-Age Youth as individuals between 16 and 25 years of age with a serious emotional disturbance or serious mental illness." — Programme eligibility policy