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Lookup NU author(s): Liam SpencerORCiD, Emma AdamsORCiD, Dr Bronia Arnott, Helen Harrison, Professor Eileen KanerORCiD, Professor Judith RankinORCiD, Professor Ruth McGovernORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Purpose – Mental health champions (MHCs) and young health ambassadors (YHAs) are two innovative public health interventions. MHCs are practitioners who work in schools and other youth settings and aim to be the ‘‘go to’’ person for mental health in these settings. YHAs are a linked parallel network of young people, who champion mental health and advocate for youth involvement, which was co-produced with young people across all stages of development implementation. This paper aims to identify the potential benefits, barriers and facilitators of these interventions.Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured qualitative interviews (n 1⁄4 19) were undertaken with a purposive sample of n 1⁄4 13 MHCs, and n 1⁄4 6 YHAs, between June 2021 and March 2022. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, anonymised and then analysed following a thematic approach. Ethical approval was granted by Newcastle University’s Faculty of Medical Sciences Ethics Committee. Findings – The findings are organised under five key themes: motivating factors and rewards for MHCs and YHAs; outcomes for children and young people (CYP) and others; impact on youth settings and culture; facilitators of successful implementation; and implementation challenges and opportunities.Practical implications – These findings are intended to be of relevance to practice and policy, particularly to those exploring the design, commissioning or implementation of similar novel and low-cost interventions, which aim to improve mental health outcomes for CYP, within the context of youth settings.Originality/value – The interventions reported on in the present paper are novel and innovative. Little research has previously been undertaken to explore similar approaches, and the individual experiences of those involved in the delivery of these types of interventions.
Author(s): Spencer L, Redgate S, Hardy C, Adams EA, Arnott B, Brown H, Christie A, Harrison H, Kaner E, Mawson C, McGovern W, Rankin J, McGovern R
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Children’s Services
Year: 2024
Volume: 19
Issue: 3
Pages: 173-188
Online publication date: 16/09/2024
Acceptance date: 21/03/2024
Date deposited: 13/09/2024
ISSN (electronic): 1746-6660
Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited
URL: https://doi.org/10.1108/JCS-04-2023-0019
DOI: 10.1108/JCS-04-2023-0019
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