Abstract
The use of social prescribing interventions for common mental health issues is expanding as clinicians seek to diverge from the traditional medical model of treatment. This intervention allows for the referral of patients to a nonclinical social activity via a link worker. Evidence for the benefits of social prescribing is growing. Most evidence is based on adults; however, a smaller number of studies involving children and young people have produced encouraging results. This evaluation reports on data routinely collected by the Linking Leeds service between 9 January 2019–11 January 2020. Linking Leeds provides Social Prescribing for people aged 16 years and above; however, the current paper focuses on service users aged between 16 and 25. Their aim is to connect people to services and activities in their community in order to benefit overall health and mental wellbeing. This evaluation of the Linking Leeds program supports the growing body of evidence to support the benefits social prescribing can have on young people’s mental health. Two main mechanisms were identified which underpin social prescribing in young people: social connectedness and behavioural activation.
Highlights
These young people were referred to the service by their GP, a third-party professional or via self-referral and had been identified as struggling to cope with stress related to non-medical issues
52.4% (n = 11) of participants reported feeling left out less on exit compared to entry of the service, while 14.3% (n = 3) of scores increased and 33.3% (n = 7) remained the same
The current difficulties young people have accessing services due to long waiting lists for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) requires an urgent assessment of viable alternatives to formal therapeutic or medical interventions
Summary
Demand for mental health services in children is increasing, with one in eight. 5–19-year-olds suffering from a mental illness [1]. Self-harm is more common among young people than any other age group [2] and globally, depression is one of the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents [3]. Suicide rates in adolescents have increased; between 2010 and 2017, one study found an increase of 7.9% per year [4]. Young people who experience mental health disorders are more likely than their peers to engage in risk behaviours. A 2017 survey found that 11–16-year-olds with a mental disorder were more likely to have self-harmed or attempted suicide at some point (25.5%)
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