KEY FINDINGS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE'S YOUNG ADULTS

According to the 2019 NH Assessment of Young Adults (YAA) by the NH Department of Health and Human Services

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Substance Use

• Lifetime substance use correlates with race, gender identity, age, and financial status across all substances.
• On average, young adults reported using about 3.2 substances in their lifetime. 
• The vast majority of young adults have used alcohol in their lifetime (87%), and 60% drank in the past 30 days.

Mental Health

• 1/3 of young adults report little interest or pleasure in doing things and feeling down, depressed or hopeless on several days in the past two weeks. 
• Almost 1 in 5 (17.1%) reported having seriously attempting suicide during that past 12 months.
• Mental health symptoms increase with financial insecurity.
• Gender minorities were significantly more likely to report depression symptoms when compared to their cisgender peers. 

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Protective Factors

​Risk Factors

- Livable wage
- Access to health care & insurance 
- Affordable housing​
- Connectivity​
​- Transportation 
- Stress management & healthy coping mechanisms 
- Mental health support

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- Family violence
- Family history of substance misuse
- ACES
- Lack of trusting relationships 
- Lack of healthy food
​- Peer pressure 
- Early use of substances
- Stigma 

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What NH young adults are excited about:

• Opportunities to build a career and earn an income 
• Making connections: friends, spouses, family, teachers, etc. 
• Young adults are excited and hopeful about their voices being heard
• Generational change and young adults in government and politics
• They believe that they can affect positive change, especially with the environment, diversity, and inclusion

​Challenges that young adults in NH face:

• Financial issues are significant barriers to accomplishing their goals
• High cost of living in NH
• Low wages
• High tuition costs

* Symptoms of poor mental health increase with financial insecurities 

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