Care-experienced young people in England will be asked directly about how they seek help for mental health problems, through a survey of at least 270 individuals and in-depth interviews with 20 to 30 others who hold multiple marginalised identities. Two-thirds of young people with diagnosable mental health conditions do not receive services, and care-experienced young people face even poorer mental health than their peers. Yet almost nothing is known about how these young people actually search for help—what stops them, what encourages them, and how their experiences differ across foster care, kinship care, and residential care, or by factors such as race, sexuality, disability, or neurodivergence. This mixed-methods study fills that gap. If successful, the research will produce co-designed digital resources for young people, practitioners, and policymakers, alongside a free online event sharing recommendations. The goal is to help social care and healthcare organisations target support more effectively, so that vulnerable young people do not fall through the cracks of a system that currently fails to reach most of them.
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Research questions How do care-experienced young people (CYP) seek help for mental health problems? What barriers and enablers do CYP encounter in relation to mental health help-seeking? What are the experiences of CYP with other marginalised identities regarding mental health help-seeking? Background International research shows that care-experienced young people (CYP) experience poorer mental health relative to the general population. Despite the increased risk, we have scant evidence about their help-seeking (how they search for help for mental health problems from a variety of services or supports). Because two-thirds of young people with diagnosable mental health problems do not receive services, the study of CYP's help-seeking is essential to improve our understanding and ensure mental health supports are appropriately targeted to the needs of this vulnerable population. Little attention has been paid to CYP s experiences or perspectives regarding help-seeking across the full range of placement types or multiple marginalised identities. Our research will address these gaps and benefit: i) CYP by improving services and policy to promote help-seeking and improved outcomes; ii) social care and healthcare organisations working with these young people by providing evidence to improve services and address unique needs. Aims and objectives This mixed-methods study examines the mental health help-seeking behaviours of CYP (aged 13-25 years) in England to understand and develop ways to improve their outcomes and service provision. The term 'care-experienced or CYP in this study includes those who live or have spent time in non-biological foster care, kinship care, and residential care. Methods This study consists of four work packages (WP). In WP1, we will conduct a systematic review of the international evidence regarding CYP s help-seeking across the full range of placement types and methodologies. WP2 will undertake an online survey with CYP (minimum N = 270) to assess their help-seeking behaviours, barriers, and facilitators. This will include assessing how help-seeking patterns vary by placement types and demographic factors (e.g., sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, age, etc.). WP3 involves an in-depth interview study exploring the experiential perspectives of CYP with multiple minority identities (N = 20-30) regarding help-seeking, i.e., racially minoritised CYP, LGBTQ+ CYP, and CYP with disabilities and neurodivergence. WP4 includes substantial engagement with social and health care practitioners, policymakers, and the wider public, including youth populations, to disseminate findings and encourage impact. The project will use participatory and co-production approaches with CYP, caregivers, and relevant stakeholders throughout. Timelines for delivery 18 months from 1 June 2025 (until 30 November 2026). Anticipated impact and dissemination This study will create substantial benefits for social care by generating a comprehensive knowledge base about how CYP seek support for mental health issues, which is currently lacking. Outputs will be co-designed by CYP and relevant stakeholders. These include interactive and accessible audiovisual digital resources for young people, social and health care practitioners, and the public. We will also produce a free online event to share findings and recommendations. Lastly, we will present findings at academic conferences and practice-oriented events.
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