{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,23]],"date-time":"2026-10-23T20:27:54Z","timestamp":1792787274683,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,27]],"date-time":"2026-09-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790467200000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":26,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"National Academy for Social Prescribing","award":["NA"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NA"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/000a8qk84","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"name":"National Institute for Health and Care Research","award":["NIHR305289"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NIHR305289"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/0187kwz08","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100000269","name":"Economic and Social Research Council","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["UKRI1717"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UKRI1717"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100000269","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"NIHR Applied Research Collaborative (ARC) North Thames","award":["NA"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NA"]}]},{"name":"Kavli Trust","award":["Kavli2023-0000000064"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["Kavli2023-0000000064"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Open"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,9]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We aimed to describe the characteristics of children and young people referred to social prescribing across the UK and understand what social prescribing looks like for these young people. Additionally, we aimed to explore whether access to and experiences of social prescribing vary with age and have changed from 2017 to 2025. Overall, we aimed to identify whether social prescribing reduces or exacerbates health inequalities among children and young people, and whether this has changed over time.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Design<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Analysis of social prescribing electronic health records.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Setting<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Social prescribing hubs and services across the UK that use Access Elemental (a cloud-based social prescribing platform).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Participants<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>52\u2009585 individuals referred to social prescribing in 2017\u20132025\u2009aged 4\u201325 years (mean=20.04 years, SD=4.71), of whom 57% were female, 39% male, &lt;2% were in other gender groups and 3% did not disclose their gender.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Primary and secondary outcome measures<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We summarised young people\u2019s characteristics (age, gender, country, urban area, area deprivation, referral route, reason for referral) and the care pathway received (case status, number type and length of contacts, onward signposting and interventions) using descriptive statistics. We then used unadjusted linear, logistic, multinomial logistic and negative binomial regression models to describe whether these factors differed by age and over time.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Most individuals were aged 18 and over, 91% lived in urban areas and 58% lived in the top three most deprived deciles of the UK. Most were referred by general practitioners or other allied health workers (79%) and mental health was the leading reason for referral (44%). The typical pathway included 4.64 social prescribing contacts (SD=7.70) totalling 66\u2009min (SD=108), with 34% receiving an onward referral to community support. The average age of those referred to social prescribing increased over time.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Our findings indicate that relatively few children under 18 were referred to social prescribing and this disparity may be increasing. It was promising that children and young people referred to social prescribing were more likely to live in deprived areas. However, given current findings, more work is needed to increase the reach of social prescribing for children and young people across the UK.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2026-120888","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T17:00:47Z","timestamp":1790614847000},"page":"e120888","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Social prescribing for children and young people in the UK: characterising access and care pathways using electronic health records"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6019-7066","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jessica K","family":"Bone","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Feifei","family":"Bu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Daniel","family":"Hayes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6952-334X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Daisy","family":"Fancourt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.1","unstructured":"Watt T , et al . Health in 2040: projected patterns of illness in England. 2023. Available: https:\/\/www.health.org.uk\/reports-and-analysis\/reports\/health-in-2040-projected-patterns-of-illness-in-england"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2024.1517533","article-title":"The youth mental health crisis: analysis and solutions","volume":"15","author":"McGorry","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front Psychiatry"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.3","unstructured":"Morris S , Hill S , Brugha T , et al . Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey: Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. England, 2023\/4 2025. doi:10.13140\/RG.2.2.24367.39840"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.4","unstructured":"Department of Health and Social Care . Fit for the future: 10 year health plan for England. 2025. Available: https:\/\/www.england.nhs.uk\/long-term-plan\/#:~:text=The%2010%20Year%20Health%20Plan,on%20The%20National%20Archives%20website"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2022-070184","article-title":"Establishing internationally accepted conceptual and operational definitions of social prescribing through expert consensus: a Delphi study","volume":"13","author":"Muhl","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-023-09650-x","article-title":"Models of social prescribing to address non-medical needs in adults: a scoping review","volume":"23","author":"Oster","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"91","DOI":"10.1192\/bjp.2024.141","article-title":"Equal, equitable or exacerbating inequalities: patterns and predictors of social prescribing referrals in 160 128 UK patients","volume":"226","author":"Bu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Br J Psychiatry"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.l1285","article-title":"Social prescribing","volume":"364","author":"Drinkwater","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"715","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.p715","article-title":"Social prescribing is no remedy for health inequalities","volume":"381","author":"Moscrop","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.3399\/BJGPO.2021.0017","article-title":"Tensions and opportunities in social prescribing. Developing a framework to facilitate its implementation and evaluation in primary care: a realist review","volume":"5","author":"Calder\u00f3n-Larra\u00f1aga","year":"2021","journal-title":"BJGP Open"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Melam C , Dyson J , Thomson K . The Role of Social Prescribing Interventions in Addressing Health Inequalities in the United Kingdom: A Narrative Review. Health & Social Care in the Community 2025;2025. doi:10.1155\/hsc\/6613809","DOI":"10.1155\/hsc\/6613809"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.12","unstructured":"Cartwright L , et al . Who is and isn\u2019t being referred to social prescribing? 2022. Available: https:\/\/socialprescribingacademy.org.uk\/media\/jaibqf4q\/evidence-review-who-is-accessing-social-prescribing.pdf"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3399\/BJGP.2023.0602"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3310\/nihropenres.13325.2","article-title":"The feasibility of identifying health inequalities in social prescribing referrals and declines using primary care patient records","volume":"3","author":"Khan","year":"2023","journal-title":"NIHR Open Res"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00787-023-02257-x"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-018-2893-4","article-title":"Facilitators and barriers of implementing and delivering social prescribing services: a systematic review","volume":"18","author":"Pescheny","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20075237","article-title":"Experiences of Non-Pharmaceutical Primary Care Interventions for Common Mental Health Disorders in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Groups: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies","volume":"20","author":"Bernard","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12916-024-03478-w","article-title":"A meta-ethnography of the factors that shape link workers\u2019 experiences of social prescribing","volume":"22","author":"Turk","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMC Med"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.19","unstructured":"Jani A , Liyanage H , Okusi C , et al . Social prescribing observatory: a learning health system approach for using data to improve practice. 2020."},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.20","unstructured":"NHS England . Neighbourhood health guidelines 2025\/26. 2025. Available: https:\/\/www.england.nhs.uk\/long-read\/neighbourhood-health-guidelines-2025-26\/"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"114037","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2021.114037","article-title":"Social prescribing and classed inequality: A journey of upward health mobility?","volume":"280","author":"Gibson","year":"2021","journal-title":"Social Science & Medicine"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S2468-2667(25)00217-8"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.23","unstructured":"NHS England . The NHS long term plan. 2019. Available: https:\/\/webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk\/ukgwa\/20230418155402\/https:\/www.longtermplan.nhs.uk\/publication\/nhs-long-term-plan\/"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-025-24413-5","article-title":"The use of social prescribing and community-based wellbeing activities as a potential prevention and early intervention pathway to improve adolescent emotional and social development: a systematic mapping review","volume":"25","author":"Mitchell","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Muhl C , Cornish E , Zhou XA , et al . Social Prescribing for Children and Youth: A Scoping Review. Health & Social Care in the Community 2025;2025. doi:10.1155\/hsc\/5265529","DOI":"10.1155\/hsc\/5265529"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/her\/cym032"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/archpsyc.62.6.593"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.28","unstructured":"YoungMinds & The Children\u2019s Society . First port of call: the role of gps in early support for young people\u2019 s mental health. 2021. Available: https:\/\/www.youngminds.org.uk\/media\/2csbkvlz\/final-the-role-of-gps-in-early-support-for-young-peoples-mental-health.pdf"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.29","unstructured":"National Academy for Social Prescribing . Social prescribing link worker survey 2025 - full report. 2025. Available: https:\/\/socialprescribingacademy.org.uk\/resources\/link-worker-survey-2025-understanding-what-matters-to-social-prescribing-link-workers\/"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.30","unstructured":"Access Elemental social prescribing software. Available: https:\/\/www.theaccessgroup.com\/en-gb\/our-brands\/elemental [Accessed 23 Sep 2026]."},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.31","unstructured":"Joy App. Available: https:\/\/www.thejoyapp.com [Accessed 23 Sep 2026]."},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.32","unstructured":"Social Rx Connect: A complete social prescribing solution. Available: https:\/\/www.socialrx.co.uk [Accessed 23 Sep 2026]."},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bu F , Hayes D , Munford L , et al . Assessing the impact of social prescribing on wellbeing outcomes: a national analysis of uk data. Public and Global Health [Preprint] 2025. doi:10.1101\/2025.09.25.25336621 Available: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1101\/2025.09.25.25336621","DOI":"10.1101\/2025.09.25.25336621"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3399\/bjgp25X741633","article-title":"Have social prescribing referrals reduced appointment pressures on primary care? Evidence from Electronic Healthcare Records","volume":"75","author":"Wilding","year":"2025","journal-title":"Br J Gen Pract"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3399\/bjgp25X741609","article-title":"Inequality in the impact of the national social prescribing on population outcomes","volume":"75","author":"Agboraw","year":"2025","journal-title":"Br J Gen Pract"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bone JK , Bu F , Fancourt D , et al . Using electronic health records to evaluate a children and young people\u2019s social prescribing service: Challenges and implications for research and practice. medRxiv 2025. Available: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.64898\/2025.12.17.25342474","DOI":"10.64898\/2025.12.17.25342474"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pmed.1001885","article-title":"The REporting of studies Conducted using Observational Routinely-collected health Data (RECORD) statement","volume":"12","author":"Benchimol","year":"2015","journal-title":"PLoS Med"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.38","unstructured":"Office for National Statistics . ONS postcode directory (May 2025) user guide. 2025. Available: https:\/\/geoportal.statistics.gov.uk\/datasets\/ca3396864fee4f5186046150f0e9092f\/about"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Scarpetti G , Shadowen H , Williams GA , et al . A comparison of social prescribing approaches across twelve high-income countries. Health Policy 2024;142. doi:10.1016\/j.healthpol.2024.104992","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healthpol.2024.104992"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.40","unstructured":"Khan H , Giurca B , International Social Prescribing Collaborative . Social prescribing around the world: a world map of global developments in social prescribing across different health system contexts: 2024. 2024. Available: https:\/\/socialprescribingacademy.org.uk\/media\/thtjrirn\/social-prescribing-around-the-world-2024.pdf"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.41","unstructured":"Bradbury A , et al . Social prescribing in child and adolescent mental health services: a guide for CAMHS practitioners. In: Learnings from phase I of the UCL \u2018Wellbeing while waiting\u2019 study. 2024. Available: https:\/\/sbbresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/CAMHS-SP-guide-final.pdf"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.42","unstructured":"NHS England . Social prescribing and community-based support: summary guide. 2020. Available: https:\/\/www.england.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/social-prescribing-summary-guide-updated-june-20.pdf"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.43","unstructured":"NHS England . Primary care workforce quarterly update, 31 december 2025. 2025. Available: https:\/\/digital.nhs.uk\/data-and-information\/publications\/statistical\/primary-care-workforce-quarterly-update\/31-december-2025"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100440","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ssmmh.2025.100440","article-title":"Social prescribing for Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) young people: A realist evaluation of the C.O.P.E. project in Italy and Portugal","volume":"7","author":"Bertotti","year":"2025","journal-title":"SSM - Mental Health"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Marques MJ , Alves RF , Dias S , et al . A realist synthesis of interventions for youth not in education, employment or training (NEET): building programme theories for effective support. Int J Adolesc Youth 2025;30. doi:10.1080\/02673843.2025.2472022","DOI":"10.1080\/02673843.2025.2472022"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dcn.2011.07.012"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"441","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tics.2008.07.008","article-title":"Development of the self-concept during adolescence","volume":"12","author":"Sebastian","year":"2008","journal-title":"Trends Cogn Sci (Regul Ed)"},{"key":"2026092810002106000_16.9.e120888.48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.1177\/17579139241294003","article-title":"We need better evidence for social prescribing: call for action for better systems for collaboration and building evidence","volume":"145","author":"Howlett","year":"2025","journal-title":"Perspect Public Health"}],"container-title":["BMJ Open"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2026-120888","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T17:00:56Z","timestamp":1790614856000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bmjopen.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2026-120888"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9]]},"references-count":48,"journal-issue":{"issue":"9","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,9]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bmjopen-2026-120888"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2026-120888","relation":{},"ISSN":["2044-6055","2044-6055"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2044-6055","type":"print"},{"value":"2044-6055","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9]]}}}