How Does Poverty Affect Young Adults 17-24

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The quality of not finishing school is one of the many ways poverty affects young adults ages 17-24. When young adults did not complete school, it made it difficult for them to find jobs that were sustainable for their living environment. Ex: Not having well paid jobs could negatively impact young adults not being able to provide for themselves, especially if these young adults have children. Which is why there are certain social welfare programs and policies for young adults. The social welfare policies and programs that will be beneficial and address social problems are programs for young adults such as the Department of Social Services, Job Corps, Residential programs for young adults and Soulegria. These programs can help them transition …show more content…

For example, adults with mental illness who are living in poverty may face higher health care costs, decreased productivity, and poor general health. According to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an estimated 9.8 million adults aged 18 or older in the U.S. had a serious mental illness (SMI), including 2.5 million adults living below the poverty line. SMI is defined in NSDUH as adults who in the past year have had a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder (excluding developmental and substance use disorders) of sufficient duration to meet diagnostic criteria and has resulted in serious functional impairment that substantially interferes with major life activities (SAMHSA, 2016). Furthermore, the effects of young adults living in poverty affect young adults mental health in many different ways. Young adults can experience stress, depression and overall health disorders due to living in poverty. Poverty in childhood and among adults can cause poor mental health through social stress, stigma and trauma (Knifton & Inglis, 2020). Equally, mental health problems can lead to impoverishment through loss of employment or underemployment, or fragmentation of social relationships (Knifton & Inglis, 2020). This vicious cycle is in reality even more complex, as many people with mental health problems move in and out of poverty, living precarious lives (Knifton & Inglis,

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