Interventions targeting the mental health and wellbeing of care-experienced children and young people: Mixed-methods systematic review with stakeholder consultation to inform transportability and adaptability to UK context

Evans, Rhiannon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0239-6331, Macdonald, Sarah ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8245-2347, Trubey, Rob, Melendez-Torres, G. J., Robling, Michael ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1004-036X, Willis, Simone ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3949-7651, Boffey, Maria, Wooders, Charlotte, Vinnicombe, Soo and Noyes, Jane 2024. Interventions targeting the mental health and wellbeing of care-experienced children and young people: Mixed-methods systematic review with stakeholder consultation to inform transportability and adaptability to UK context. The British Journal of Social Work , bcae061. 10.1093/bjsw/bcae061

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Abstract

Care-experienced children and young people are at increased risk of poor mental health and wellbeing, and suicide-related outcomes. There is an evidence-base for intervention effectiveness, but this is primarily from the USA. The present systematic review synthesised evidence for international interventions, exploring potential transportability and adaptability to the UK. We constructed an evidence map, and syntheses of intervention effectiveness, process evaluations and economic evaluations. We conducted seven stakeholder consultations with care-experienced young people, carers and professionals, to appraise transportability and adaptability. We identified 64 interventions, with 124 associated study reports. Seventy-seven were from the USA. There was limited effectiveness in targeting mental health, although there were promising approaches. Few approaches targeted wellbeing and suicide. Five context factors may inhibit functioning: insufficient resources; the time, emotional and cognitive burden; challenging interprofessional relationships; non-responsiveness to young people’s needs; and discounting of carers’ knowledge. This is first robust review to identify transportable and/or adaptable interventions for the UK. Stakeholders recommended peer mentoring by other care-experienced individuals and system-change models that facilitate an attachment and/or trauma-informed ethos. Adaptation of existing approaches may be required to account for the context factors. Further intervention work is needed to target wellbeing and suicide.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Centre for Trials Research (CNTRR) Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
ISSN:	1468-263X
Funders:	NIHR-PHR, Health and Care Research Wales, Cancer Research UK
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	3 July 2024
Date of Acceptance:	5 June 2024
Last Modified:	12 Nov 2024 10:32
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/169911

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