NCS Trust has partnered with StreetGames, the Social Prescribing Youth Network (SPYN) and researchers at University College London (UCL) to build evidence on the positive impact of youth sector provision on young people’s mental health. The partnership will deliver an evidence review which will inform the scope and design of a new social prescribing pilot, testing the role of youth provision and enrichment activities in supporting mental health among young people.
A recent NHS report showed that young people are facing a mental health emergency, with almost one in four young people aged 17-19 and one in five aged 20-25 identified as having a probable mental health problem. Early intervention and non-clinical support could help be part of the solution to this significant problem.
Youth sector provision, including non-formal learning and enrichment, has an important role to play in improving young people’s mental health and wellbeing in a non-clinical environment. Studies show that extracurricular activities can increase feelings of optimism and peer belonging, which can help to improve overall mental health outcomes among young people. For example, 75% of young people who took part in NCS, which offers a range of experiences for young people to help them grow their confidence, independence and skills, agree that they now ‘feel better prepared for challenges that life might bring me’.
However, the role of the youth sector is often under-recognised in youth mental health support services and policy. As mental health is a growing priority in the youth sector, NCS Trust is keen to contribute to evidence-building efforts, and emerging best practice in this space. The evidence, learning, and impact generated through the research and pilot will build the case for greater recognition and funding for youth sector provision through social prescribing services (non-clinical interventions for children and young people who are experiencing mild or non-clinical mental health problems).
The research project, known as YES (Youth sector Enabling Social prescribing), started in April and will run until November 2024.
Mark Gifford, CEO of NCS Trust, said:
“We recognise the positive impact that enrichment through NCS and other youth sector organisations can have on the mental health of young people. NCS is delighted to partner with StreetGames and UCL, drawing on their combined expertise in the areas of youth and mental health. This important research will provide useful evidence to inform how we shape our services for young people to ensure that we support their mental health needs in the most appropriate and effective way.”
Dr Daniel Hayes, Principal Investigator and Senior Research Fellow from UCL said:
“Many young people suffer from poor wellbeing and are not engaging with activities and community assets which can help improve this. We are excited to be launching YES which will contribute to the evidence base on the youth sector and wellbeing, as well as to provide options and recommendations on how to better integrate social prescribing with the youth sector to help more young people access it.”
NHS Digital (2023) Mental Health of Children and Young People in England
Liza Jarvis, Youth Social Prescribing Lead from StreetGames/SPYN said:
“We are excited to be working with UCL and NCS on the YES project to ensure more young people are able to access social prescribing in their local communities. It’s particularly important to support more young people to work out ‘what matters to them’ to improve both their physical and mental wellbeing and to continue to ensure young people are at the heart of all support they receive.”