Addressing Complex Mental Health Needs in Foster Care: A Youth Perspective 

 

 

Addressing Complex Mental Health Needs in Foster Care: A Youth Perspective 

Written by Sepherina Latthium 

 

When we hear the term “Complex Mental Health Needs,” it can evoke a wide range of thoughts. For young people with experience in the foster care system, the term often represents the layers of trauma, mental health challenges, and the need for intensive, tailored care. Youth in foster care face a unique set of challenges, including navigating the intersection of multiple diagnoses, emotional stressors, and the lingering impact of their environment. For them, addressing these needs requires more than just medication or therapy — it calls for understanding, compassion, and a system that supports their holistic well-being. 

 

What Does “Complex Mental Health Needs” Mean to Foster Youth? 

Many young people in foster care understand complex mental health needs through their own lived experience. Their insights offer a window into how deep and multifaceted these needs truly are. 

“This term, to me, means that this person is experiencing a type of mental illness that affects them deeply; such as their perception of self, reality, or is so intense that it is debilitating both mentally and physically.

– Keona Rose, age 23, 5 years in Arizona foster care 

 

While each person’s experience may differ, many agree that complex mental health needs involve a combination of diagnoses or struggles that create layers of difficulty in daily functioning. These needs aren’t easily addressed by a one-size-fits-all approach. 

“When I think of complex mental health needs, I think of someone who probably had an adverse childhood. Someone with multiple or severe mental illnesses that contributes to high levels of psychological distress… Someone with complex mental health needs typically needs more than just a typical youth.”

– Jaxx Ryann, age 24, 4 years in Montana foster care

 

The Weight of the Label 

 For some, understanding that they have complex mental health needs can feel empowering. It provides context to what they’ve experienced and helps explain why their struggles may look different from others. But for others, it can be a heavy label to carry. 

“For me, it was really hard to hear at first. I’ve always been told I’m difficult to deal with, I’m a burden. It took a long time for me to separate myself from my diagnosis.”

– Jaxx Ryann, age 24, 4 years in Montana foster care

 

On the other hand, sometimes the hardest part isn’t the diagnosis itself, but the perceptions and stigma carried by others: 

“I got an adult diagnosis of autism, and my parents… took it almost like an insult, I guess. They’re like, ‘oh, something’s wrong with my genes, that can’t be right.’ And I was like, it’s just a thing, you know.”  

– Silas Fulcher, age 25, experience in Georgia foster care 

 

For youth in foster care, understanding their mental health challenges is critical, but the system’s response to these needs must be thoughtful. Labeling a young person with “complex mental health needs” shouldn’t reinforce negative stereotypes or isolate them further. Instead, it should open doors to appropriate support that acknowledges their unique needs without defining them by their struggles.

“If we explain it right, we can teach them about equity, how some people have different needs than others and that’s okay.”

– Jaxx Ryann, age 24, 4 years in Montana foster care

A Call for Trauma-Informed Care 

Ultimately, addressing complex mental health needs for foster youth requires a trauma-informed approach. These young people have lived through experiences that deeply affect their mental health, and they need services that reflect the depth of their struggles. Trauma-informed care goes beyond clinical treatment — it recognizes the impact of the foster care experience and centers on healing and understanding. This is where adoption competent mental health services come in.  

As Keona Rose wisely suggests, youth must be given agency in understanding their mental health: 

“Giving youth a choice to want to know more about themselves or just tend to their level of comfort and needs is what should be focused on and prioritized… Always take trauma-informed approaches.”
Keona Rose, age 23, 5 years in Arizona foster care 

 

The perspective of these young people reinforces the need for systems of care to be compassionate, supportive, and adaptable to the complex realities they face. Their mental health is not just another checklist item, but a vital part of their journey toward healing and stability. 

Conclusion 

Addressing complex mental health needs in foster care is about more than treating symptoms. It’s about understanding the profound impact of trauma, recognizing the layers of difficulty that youth in care experience, and creating systems that respond with care and support. From their own words, it’s clear that foster youth need a comprehensive, individualized approach to mental health — one that centers their lived experiences, meets their unique needs, and gives them the tools to thrive. 

 

About FosterClub and the Lived Experience (LEx) Leaders who contributed their perspectives to this blog: FosterClub, a proud partner of the National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health, is the national network for young people who experience foster care. In partnership with Lived Experience Leaders, FosterClub drives change in the child welfare system and provides direct support to children and youth.