Is Youth Mentoring Beneficial for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Users? A Multi-Stakeholder Perspective

Abstract Background Internationally, the number of young people who experience significant mental health issues is increasing. It is argued that flexible, community-based initiatives can help support mental health services to address the mental health needs of young people. Youth mentoring is a community-based model, which has been found to act as a supportive resource for vulnerable and at-risk youth. Objective This research examines the benefits and challenges associated with the provision of mentoring within a youth mental health context. The study explores the rationale guiding the partnership between a community-based mentoring organisation and child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in Ireland, and identifies key practice considerations. Method 40 participants involved with the partnership took part in semi-structured qualitative interviews, which were analysed using a thematic analytic approach. Results Mentoring was viewed as a means of providing relaxed, informal, friendships that could help the young person to socialise more, strengthen their social skills, and become more integrated into their communities. Positive changes in social and emotional well-being were observed among participating youth. Practical challenges included delays in matching young people with mentors and communication issues. Conclusions Findings have relevance for researchers and practitioners interested in the integration of community-based and statutory mental health services, as they indicate that youth mentoring can act as a supportive resource for youth who experience mental health difficulties. Findings also provide insights into the processes that may support/hinder the effectiveness and acceptability of mentoring within a context mental health, which can help inform best practice guidelines.