Hard to reach is rather an unhelpful term from the perspective of many young people who might be labelled in this way.

A better phrase to capture the same idea is Under-Served

They are not 'hard to reach' for local gangs, dealers or indeed for many positive figures such as youth workers who are prepared to go out to meet them.

They are often experienced as hard to reach by services offering clinic-based appointments, that might appear highly formal, and even intimidating, and which might also struggle with the stigma that is often attached to Mental Health or Youth Offending services. Without family support to attend appointments in such settings many young people opt for avoidance as a first response.

Key concepts that are often associated with the 'hard to reach' young person are Comorbidities and Complexity and there are important Developmental Considerations for this group of young people.