Young People in Out-of-Home Care Experience Complex Mental Health Needs

Young people living in out-of-home care face significant mental health challenges, with a higher rate of being prescribed psychotropic medications compared to their peers not living in care. A recent scoping review and meta-analysis of international literature has shed light on the prevalence and factors associated with psychotropic medication use among this vulnerable population. The study, conducted by researchers from Monash University, aimed to understand the complex needs of young people in out-of-home care and identify the factors influencing the likelihood of prescribing and/or use of psychotropic medications.

Key Takeaways:

• The pooled prevalence of any psychotropic medication use among young people in out-of-home care was 42.16% (95% CI: 31.76-52.93%).
• The most commonly examined predisposing factors suggested differences in prescribing practices associated with demographic characteristics such as age, sex, and ethnicity.
• Psychotropic medication management in out-of-home care is complex, with a need for improved cross-system coordination, caregiver support, meaningful youth involvement, and trauma-informed, person-centred approaches to mental health care.
• The study highlighted the importance of considering individual subclasses of psychotropic medications, with pooled prevalence estimates ranging from 2.24% for anxiolytics to 25.60% for stimulants.
• The findings of this study have implications for policy and practice, emphasizing the need for safe, effective, and equitable psychotropic medication use in out-of-home care settings.

Statistics:

• 42.16% of young people in out-of-home care are prescribed psychotropic medications (95% CI: 31.76-52.93%).
• 25.60% of young people in out-of-home care are prescribed stimulants (16.82-35.51%).
• 21.33% of young people in out-of-home care are prescribed antipsychotics (12.42-31.87%).
• 16.36% of young people in out-of-home care are prescribed antidepressants (10.35-23.42%).
• 8.57% of young people in out-of-home care are prescribed mood stabilisers (4.61-13.58%).

Sources:

• Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2025.
• NewsRx. Researchers' Work from Monash University Focuses on Mental Health Diseases and Conditions (Patterns of Psychotropic Medication Use Among Young People Living In Out-of-home Care: a Scoping Review and Meta-analysis of International Literature). Mental Health Weekly Digest. October 20, 2025; p 1015.