Can community activities boost youth mental health? new study investigates
NCT ID NCT07143383
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study explores whether social prescribing—connecting young people to community activities like sports, arts, or volunteering—can improve mental health when added to therapy in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Researchers will recruit 120 young people aged 11-18 who have started therapy for emotional difficulties. Half will receive up to six sessions with a Link Worker to find activities they enjoy, while the other half get a leaflet with community resources. The goal is to see if this approach is feasible and acceptable, not yet to prove it works.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Social prescribing (a person-centered approach connecting young people to community activities like arts, sports, or volunteering, guided by a Link Worker)
- What this could lead to
- If this approach works, it could offer a new way to support young people's mental health by linking them to community activities alongside therapy.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study (120 participants) testing feasibility, not effectiveness. It may not show clear mental health benefits, and results may not apply to all young people.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
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