CAMHS and Social Prescribing Applications

Background: Social prescribing (SP) is a mechanism for linking patients with non-medical forms of community support and has demonstrated mental health benefits for adults and young people (YP). However, SP is predominantly based in primary care, which limits accessibility for YP who typically engage less with this setting. Within CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), SP has only recently begun to be trialed, mainly as a pre-treatment option while waiting for care. The CASPA study will pilot a novel SP pathway embedded after the start of psychological treatment in CAMHS, aiming to test its feasibility, acceptability, and potential impact on mental health and wellbeing through a randomized controlled trial. Methods: CASPA is a two-group (intervention vs. active control) parallel randomized pilot study with YP as the unit of randomization. A total of 120 YP aged 11-18, who have started psychological treatment for emotional difficulties in one of three CAMHS sites in England, will be recruited. Participants in the intervention group will receive a co-produced, person-centered SP pathway involving up to six sessions with a trained Link Worker (LW). These sessions will help identify 'what matters to them' and connect YP with locally mapped community activities and support (e.g. arts, sports, volunteering). Participants in the control group will receive signposting to the same community resources via a leaflet from CAMHS staff or researchers. Quantitative data will be collected at baseline, 3-month and 6-month follow-up, including measures of resilience, mental health, wellbeing, service use, and quality of life. Primary outcomes include feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of the intervention, assessed through validated measures and participation metrics, alongside any evidence of impact. Qualitative interviews with YP, CAMHS staff, and LWs will explore implementation experiences, barriers, facilitators, and mechanisms of impact. Discussion: Th