CHOICES - Social Prescribing Pathways for Children and Young People
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The use of social prescribing and community-based wellbeing activities as a potential prevention and early intervention pathway to improve adolescent emotional and social development.
IRAS ID
311881
Contact name
Vashti Berry
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Exeter
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Many young people are experiencing mental health difficulties, and services are struggling to cope with the demand. The use of community-based activities, through social prescribing (SP) pathways, is one potential way to prevent / address mental health difficulties in children and young people (CYP), however existing knowledge on SP is primarily about adults. There is little research examining how SP might work for young people, and whether it improves mental wellbeing. This study will explore key issues through two work packages (WP):
WP1 How do SP schemes/pathways operate to support CYP with mental health difficulties to access, connect with and participate in community activities? Who do young people talk to about their mental health concerns? How do they access community groups for mental health concerns?
WP2 To better understand how community-based support can improve the wellbeing of young people. What does the term ‘community’ mean to CYP? What do CYP want from their communities? How can community services support CYP with their mental health?
We will work with 5-6 social prescribing providers which already work with CYP. We will conduct a scoping review of published and grey literature around pathways into community activities for CYP. We will enhance this review with interviews with CYP users of relevant services, practitioners and family members / carers where appropriate.
We will also run community workshops with CYP to explore the meaning of ‘community’ and conduct interviews with CYP and practitioners to map community organisations networks.
Findings will be shared via graphics, videos, summary reports and training workshops on how SP links to community-based activities might address mental health difficulties for CYP. Findings will be disseminated via events in sites and will feed into policy and practice at local, regional and national levels. They will also inform plans for further research in this area.REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/PR/0821
Date of REC Opinion
5 Aug 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion