An exploration of young people’s, parent/carers’, and professionals’ experiences of a voluntary sector organisation operating a Youth Information, Advice, and Counselling (YIAC) model in a disadvantaged area

Abstract

Background The present evaluation explored young people’s, parents/carers, and healthcare professionals’ perceptions of the Youth Information, Advice and Counselling (YIAC) model operated by a voluntary sector organisation in North West England. With an aim to understand the key components that contribute to enhancing the success of the YIAC model. Method Semi-structured interviews and focus groups with young people, parents/carers, and healthcare professionals were conducted. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Five main themes were identified from the data: 1) Accessibility and flexibility; 2) Non-clinical model and environment; 3) Staff; 4) Partnership working; and 5) Promotion of positive mental health and wellbeing. Conclusion Findings highlight the importance of non-clinical, community-based, ‘one-stop-shop’ hubs for young people in disadvantaged areas. The key components highlighted as facilitating access and engagement include: opportunity to self-refer, choice of location, timely provision of support, non-clinical environment, age appropriate services, a non-hierarchical workforce, inclusive support for family and carers, a focus on wider, often social, issues, and collaboration with partner organisations. These findings suggest that early support hubs for young people’s mental health should have consistent, long-term funding and should exist in every local area.

Perceptions of the key components of effective, acceptable and accessible services for children and young people experiencing common mental health problems: a qualitative study

“…The importance that participants placed on rapid access to support in order to prevent the deterioration of CYP’s mental health resonates with previous studies [ 27 , 49 ]. Indeed, it has been reported that the longer CYP spend on a waiting list the more likely they are not to engage with services [ 41 ], and that rapid access is associated with increasing their motivation to engage in therapeutic work [ 50 ].…”

A collaboratively produced model of service design for children and young people with common mental health problems

“…The National Children’s Bureau [ 38 ] stressed the importance of personalising services and therapies for CYP with poor mental health. Finally, Hassan et al [ 39 ] report on a specific service model, Youth Information, Advice and Counselling Services (YIACS; categorised as a C3 model in our typology). Hassan et al identified opportunities to self-refer, timely provision of support, non-clinical environments, age-appropriate services (personalisation), a non-hierarchical workforce (learning culture) and interagency collaboration as key facilitators of access to, and engagement with, YIACS.…”

Service design for children and young people with common mental health problems: literature review, service mapping and collective case study

“…In 2021, the National Children's Bureau 104 stressed the importance of personalising services and therapies for CYP with poor mental health. Finally, a 2022 paper on YIACS 105 (published after our review searches had been completed) identified opportunities to self-refer, timely provision of support, non-clinical environments, age-appropriate services (personalisation), a non-hierarchical workforce (learning culture) and interagency collaboration as key facilitators of access to, and engagement with, YIACS. These factors are strikingly similar to those in our model.…”