Introduction: social prescribing as a potential prevention pathway for adolescents
Adolescence is a period of rapid physical, emotional, and social change. Fostering social connectedness outside the family is central to identity development and mental wellbeing. This systematic mapping review examines how social prescribing and related community-based wellbeing activities may serve as prevention and early intervention pathways to improve emotional and social development among children and young people (CYP). It synthesizes where and how CYP connect to community assets, who initiates contact, and what happens along the pathway from first contact to participation in activities.
The growing attention to social prescribing for young people
While social prescribing has gained traction for adults, evidence for CYP is still emerging. The review highlights rising demand for mental health support in both primary care and the community, paired with gaps in timely, preventative care. A limited but growing body of research links social connectedness and community participation to better mental health outcomes for CYP, though understanding remains uneven across settings and countries.
Pathways, linking functions, and delivery settings
Social prescribing pathways for CYP differ from adult models. Key questions include who refers CYP to services (schools, GPs, self-referral, mental health services) and what linking function exists to connect young people with community assets. About one-third of services described an explicit link worker or similar role, while others provided access to activities via other staff or without a dedicated linking function. Delivery settings are diverse: schools and youth centres are common, but services also operate in community hubs, online formats, parks, or homes. This variability reflects local adaptation but complicates cross-site comparisons and the identification of best practices for CYP.
Community activities and the four pillars framework
Adult social prescribing commonly organises activities into four pillars: Advice and Information, Arts and Heritage, Natural Environment, and Physical Activity. For CYP, the evidence shows a broader range of activities, including volunteering, mentoring, and general community engagement that may not fit neatly into the four pillars. Physical activity and nature-based experiences (e.g., surfing, gardening) were frequently included and often intertwined with social support. Arts-based activities (e.g., theatre, dance) and practical support (housing, education, career guidance) also featured prominently. This suggests the need for a CYP-specific framework to capture the full spectrum of community assets accessible through social prescribing for younger populations.
Populations, referrals, and outcomes
Studies span a wide age range (roughly 4–29 years in some programs), with commonly served groups starting around early adolescence. Referrals most often originated from schools, followed by GPs and self-referrals. Reported outcomes were predominantly positive, focusing on psychological wellbeing (mood, resilience, self-esteem), social wellbeing (loneliness, social connectedness), and reductions in loneliness. Some studies also tracked school attendance, service use, and transitions between services. Although not an effectiveness review, the body of evidence consistently points to potential benefits of CYP engagement in community activities for mental health and social development.
Implications for policy, practice, and research
Key implications emerge for the CYP social prescribing sector. First, clearer articulation of who services aim to help and how they should work is needed to enable timely access and appropriate referrals. Second, the presence or absence of a formal linking function matters: dedicated link workers may improve tailoring, decision-making, and alignment with local assets, though other roles can also facilitate access if equipped with local knowledge. Third, the four-p pillars framework may be insufficient to capture CYP-specific offerings; researchers and practitioners should consider broader categorisations that reflect young people’s preferences and the full range of community assets. Finally, given the pandemic’s impact on demand and service availability, adaptable, timely pathways that support prevention and early intervention are crucial.
Strengths, limitations, and future directions
As a systematic mapping review, the work maps breadth rather than assessing effectiveness, capturing 68 sources describing 72 social prescribing services across multiple countries. This breadth reveals considerable diversity in delivery settings, referral pathways, and activities, underscoring both the potential and the challenge of scaling CYP-focused social prescribing. Limitations include heterogeneity in definitions of mental health needs and the lack of a CYP-specific evaluative framework. Future research should establish a CYP-centred conceptual model for social prescribing, evaluate differential impacts by age, ethnicity, and need, and test standardized pathways that preserve youth agency and choice.
Conclusion
Social prescribing offers a promising route to connect CYP with community-based assets that support emotional and social development. By clarifying who it serves, refining linking roles, and adopting CYP-specific activity frameworks, policymakers and practitioners can strengthen prevention and early intervention efforts, helping adolescents thrive in the face of rapid change and processing post-pandemic service demand.
