Identifying the active ingredients and contextual factors of social prescribing when used to support the mental health of children and young people: a qualitative study

Recent years have seen a rise in mental health challenges among children and young people (CYP), while frontline treatments remain limited. Social prescribing (SP), a holistic approach using community resources to empower individuals in managing their health, offers a potentially more sustainable and acceptable option for supporting CYP's mental health. Although early evidence is promising, little is known about how SP works. Following the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions (Skivington et al., 2021), this study explores the active ingredients and contextual factors of SP in supporting CYP mental health. Nineteen professionals involved in delivering SP to CYP with mental health difficulties were interviewed. Through template analysis, four active ingredients were identified: (1) SP offers a holistic approach that involves tailoring programmes to a young person's needs, interests and their readiness, (2) SP offers young people an opportunity to exercise agency in defining their care pathway and engaging in their recovery journey, (3) The development of a professional but unpressured supportive relationship with a skilled adult is an important factor in SP, and (4) SP offers a safe space for young people to discuss their emotional needs and health. Additionally, four contextual factors influencing SP delivery were identified: (1) Supportive organisational environments, (2) Parental buy-in, (3) Public awareness, and (4) Barriers to access. Defining these active ingredients and contextual factors can help consolidate SP for CYP's mental health, contributing to its wider adoption and impact.