Why ‘Third Spaces’ Matter for Youth Mental Health
On a rainy Thursday afternoon in the East of England, a group of young people gather in a converted arts space—an old warehouse transformed into a warm, bright room filled with music, paint, and conversation. Some come to talk. Some come because they don’t know where else to go. A few arrive quietly, sliding into the corner before eventually joining a group activity.
For many 16–25-year-olds, this “third space”—a place that is neither home nor school—is the first environment where they feel safe enough to talk about their mental health.
A new mixed-methods process evaluation published in Frontiers in Public Health shines a light on why these spaces, and the relationships nurtured within them, matter so deeply. The study examined a multi-component youth mental health support intervention spanning schools, community hubs, one-to-one wellbeing navigation, and workforce training. Its findings offer valuable lessons for any public health team grappling with rising youth mental health needs.
The Problem: Rising Need, Fragmented Systems
The need could not be clearer. In the UK, nearly 1 in 4 young adults now live with a diagnosed mental health condition. Referrals have soared by 50% in one year, with some young people waiting more than a year for care.
Yet support remains fragmented—siloed between child and adult services, school and community settings, and clinical and non-clinical pathways. Many young people fall through the cracks, especially during high-risk transitions such as:
- Leaving school
- Entering college or university
- Starting employment
- Navigating housing instability
- Taking on caregiving roles
These transitions can disrupt routines, relationships, and identity—and can sharply increase vulnerability. Traditional services often aren’t designed with these life changes in mind.
The Intervention: Four Components, One Shared Goal
The evaluation followed a co-designed, place-based intervention delivered across ten organizations and educational settings. The program consisted of:
- Building Resilience (BR) Whole-school/college action plans, audits, and communities of practice for staff.
- Wellbeing Navigators (WN) Eight weeks of one-to-one mental health support for 16–25-year-olds.
- Community Collaboration Hubs (CC) Creative third spaces—youth theatre, therapeutic writing, and a rural transition program.
- Upskilling the Workforce (UW) Mental health training for more than 700 professionals across education, government, and VCFSE organizations.
Though the components varied in intensity and reach, they shared a core purpose: provide accessible, youth-centered mental health support that meets young people where they already are.
What the Evidence Shows
1. Community and Relationship-Centered Support Works
Across hubs and navigation sessions, young people consistently reported improvements in:
- Confidence
- Positivity
- Symptom management
- Daily functioning
- Readiness for life transitions
These environments reduced stigma and allowed young people to feel “seen” and “validated,” especially when hearing peers share similar experiences.
2. Young People Trust Voluntary Spaces More Than Schools
Schools were essential partners—but their engagement was inconsistent. Staff faced capacity constraints, competing priorities, and resource limitations. In contrast, voluntary “third spaces” felt chosen, not mandated. This finding underscores a recurring theme in youth mental health research: young people open up when they feel they have agency.
3. Workforce Training May Be One of the Highest-Value Investments
With a cost per engaged participant of just £252, workforce upskilling showed strong potential for scalability. Staff reported:
- Greater confidence
- Better understanding of youth mental health
- More effective support during transitions
This could have system-wide benefits if adopted broadly.
4. The Most Vulnerable Youth Remain the Hardest to Reach
Despite strong engagement overall, providers voiced concerns:
- Who isn’t showing up?
- And why?
Young carers, NEET youth, and those facing severe disadvantage may still be missing out, often due to stigma, mistrust, or lack of awareness.
What This Means in Practice
For Local Health Departments
- Invest in community-based hubs that provide safe, voluntary environments.
- Support flexible one-to-one models like wellbeing navigation.
- Build shared referral and data pathways across sectors.
For Schools and Colleges
- Focus on transition points, not just crisis management.
- Embed mental health promotion into post-16 education and vocational pathways.
- Strengthen staff capacity through regular training.
For Community Organizations
- Lean into relationships and creative expression—these were key engagement mechanisms.
- Partner with local health staff to extend reach.
- Prioritize culturally responsive and identity-affirming programming.
What’s Next: Challenges and Opportunities
Barriers
- Fragmented funding and short project cycles
- Capacity constraints within education settings
- Difficulty reaching the most marginalized youth
- Limited data integration across sectors
Opportunities
- Scaling workforce training across regions
- Embedding youth voice in design and evaluation
- Developing shared intake and referral systems
- Expanding creative third-space models
- Conducting longitudinal economic evaluations
Open Questions for Readers
- How might your agency partner with community hubs or creative organizations to strengthen youth mental health support?
- What transition points in your region are underserved—and how could this model be adapted to address them?
- What would it take to meaningfully include young people in designing your next program or initiative?
