Social Biobehavioural Research Group

A teal graphic shows the SBB logo, with a screenshot of the Research Papers Library in a bubble, and the wording "300+ papers available to browse in our online research library".

Not one, but two new youth #SocialPrescribing articles to share!

📌 Check out this systematic review: bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

📌 Plus a study protocol: bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

And browse more papers in our library: sbbresearch.org/research-pap...

Our latest #SocialPrescribing Youth Network (SPYN) newsletter just landed! 📩

In this edition:
📄 New insights from researchers
📣 Calls to join our roundtables: third sector orgs & young people
💭 Member Meetup reflections
📌 Community news & resources

mailchi.mp/ucl/spyn_oct25

Searching for your next listen? 🎧

Check out #ThreeAgesOfChild where @drguddisingh.bsky.social blends storytelling and systems thinking to explore what health really means in the UK today — through the voices of families, teachers, teenagers, and health workers on the ground 👇

Did you know that Florence Nightingale was one of the early pioneers of #ArtsAndHealth? 🎨👩‍⚕️

Learn more in the clip & check out Prof Daisy Fancourt's complete video series as part of The Philip Leverhulme Prize Collection 🎬

sbbresearch.org/new-video-se... @leverhulme.ac.uk @expeditions.bsky.social

Looking to expand your knowledge, skills and network in #ArtsInHealth? 🌱

Apply to join us at the Arts Health Research Intensive 2026!

Scholarship and early bird discounts are available! 🌟

📝 2025 recap: sbbresearch.org/arts-health-...
ℹ️ More info: sbbresearch.org/arts-health-...

Illustrated infographic summarising insights from the roundtable with researchers on advancing evidence for youth social prescribing, covering challenges, impact, and future research.

How can we advance the evidence base for youth #SocialPrescribing? 🔎

We spoke to researchers & academics to answer this question – we’re delighted to share learning in our latest blog and accompanying illustration.

Take a look 👇
sbbresearch.org/advancing-th...

Join us at the next Social Prescribing Youth Network (#SPYN) Member Meetup tomorrow!

Last chance to sign up 👉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/spyn-membe...

The front cover of the book "Art Cure" is accompanied by the Waterstones logo and text reading "25% OFF RRP, 2026 New Titles".

Art Cure by Professor Daisy Fancourt is featured as one of
@waterstones.bsky.social's autumn promotion picks! 📢

That means from today until 17th October you can receive 25% off the RRP when you pre-order online with the code "OCTOBER25" 💻

waterstones.com/book/art-cur...

Professor of psychobiology and epidemiology @ucl-sbb.bsky.social, Daisy Fancourt, reflects on being a woman in science and shares advice for early career researchers. www.joinexpeditions.com/experts/4622

Calling the #ArtsInHealth community!

Submit your work to present at the International Society for Arts & Medicine (ISfAM) Congress 2026 'The Healing Arts – Forging Alliances of Arts & Medicine' 💬

Submission deadline: 30 November 2025 🔔

Find out more 👉 event.fourwaves.com/healingarts-...

Join us for a special event on the value of knowledge in an age of disinformation.

📍 Conway Hall, London
📅 Monday 17 November, 2025

Buy your 🎟️ here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/5x15-lever... @expeditions.bsky.social @ucl-sbb.bsky.social

Hear from Prof Daisy Fancourt and other groundbreaking researchers at a special event in London next month 👇

Our latest newsletter has just landed in inboxes 📨

🔍 Take a look for an exciting book announcement plus the latest research news on #ArtsAndHealth & #SocialPrescribing: mailchi.mp/ucl/sbb-oct25
🔔 Subscribe for future updates: sbbresearch.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...

Scholarships are available for our flagship Arts Health Research Intensive 🚀

Looking to develop knowledge, skills and contacts in #ArtsInHealth? Then this course might be for you! #AHRI26

⌛ Scholarship applications close on 9 November 2025

Find out more & apply 👉 sbbresearch.org/arts-health-...

One in three young people surveyed expect to need mental health support in coming year The majority (64%) of young adults in Britain say they have experienced mental health difficulties, with a third (32%) expecting to need support in the coming year, according to polling commissioned f...

ICYMI: 19 September marked #YouthMentalHealthDay 💬

This is a key focus of our work – explore below:
📊 New data from @uclgrandchallenges.bsky.social 👉 tinyurl.com/3p6w8due
💡 Our research on #SocialPrescribing 👉 tinyurl.com/5n6nzrh4
🎧 Distrupted Voices podcast 👉 tinyurl.com/2sspzjtb

Social prescribing rises sharply among England’s GPs More than one million people a year are now being referred by GPs to social prescribing services, according to a new study led by researchers at UCL.

More than one million people a year are now being referred by GPs to social prescribing services 🧑‍⚕️

"This underlines what a fundamental and important service social prescribing now is within the NHS" - Professor Daisy Fancourt www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/se...

The front cover of the Policy Brief. This includes the title, a photo of young people standing together, and the logos of SPYN, the Social Biobehavioural Research Group, the National Academy for Social Prescribing and the Southbank Centre.

Have you seen our latest policy brief on #SocialPrescribing for #YoungPeople?

📌 Read our key findings and recommendations: sbbresearch.org/wp-content/u...
📅 Join the conversation at our next event on Thursday 16th October, 12-1pm: eventbrite.co.uk/e/spyn-membe...

New research led by our team tracks five years of #SocialPrescribing growth in England 📈 👇

Want to learn more? Join our webinar with NASP on Tue 21st October 📅 We'll be reviewing major developments in Social Prescribing research from the past year: socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/events/nasp-...

Join us at the Arts Health Research Intensive 2026 ⭐

#AHRI26 provides a rich introduction to the evidence base around #ArtsInHealth, fundamentals of evaluation and research, while connecting you with peers who share your interests!

Learn more and apply 👇
sbbresearch.org/arts-health-...

Young People’s Views of Social Prescribing as an Approach to Improving Mental Health: A Qualitative Study Child and adolescent mental health difficulties are increasing in the UK and internationally. Social prescribing (SP), a nonmedical, community-linked approach, has shown promise for improving adult w...

What do young people think about #SocialPrescribing as an approach to improving #MentalHealth? 💭

Take a look at the findings of a new qualitative study, from authors Annabelle Olsson, Emily Stapley, Alexander Russell and @danhayesphd.bsky.social 🔍

doi.org/10.1155/hsc/...

Great to stay in touch @hotmoklet.bsky.social and hope that you are also doing well! 🎉

📖 Professor Fancourt's new book "Art Cure" will be published in early 2026 and you can now pre-order in the UK & US: sbbresearch.org/projects/art...

🗓️ Check out the full Healing Arts programme from the Jameel Arts & Health Lab: www.healingartsnewyork.org

📸 Photo credit: @rebeccataylor.bsky.social

Professor Daisy Fancourt gives a keynote speech at UNGA Healing Arts Week.

Today Professor Daisy Fancourt is in New York City, giving a keynote speech for #UNGAHealingArtsWeek 📣

Sharing the results of decades of scientific studies, Fancourt shows how the arts – alongside diet, sleep, exercise and nature – are the forgotten fifth pillar of health 💊🎨

Great photo - if you are happy for us to share this through our communications channels too then please let us know! We can give credit 📸

‘Crafts are like medicine!’: Gen Z and the rapid rise of cosy hobbies From crochet to drawing, supper clubs to pottery, young people are finding community and connection through pastimes once associated with their grandparents

“Whether practised alone or in a group, hobbies such as crochet and knitting become part of your social identity, functioning as a vehicle for reducing loneliness and building community.” 🧶
– Prof Daisy Fancourt in The Guardian

Read the full article 👇
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Interested in #SocialPrescribing for children, young people and families?

Join our next #SPYN Member Meetup to:
🔎 Hear insights from our roundtables on embedding & sustaining youth social prescribing
🗣️ Share your views
🤝 Network

Free & online, register below 👇
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/spyn-membe...

An illustration summarises discussion from a roundtable on the topic of "Challenges and Opportunities for Embedding and Sustaining Youth Social Prescribing".

How can we embed and sustain #SocialPrescribing so that it benefits more children, young people and families?

Earlier in the summer we asked policymakers and commissioners exactly this 🗨️

Check out our brand new policy brief and illustration to learn more: sbbresearch.org/how-to-embed...

An orange and blue graphic shows the title "When Science Finds a Way", next to the Wellcome Trust logo and the text "Season Three with Alisha Wainwright".

‘When Science Finds a Way’, the podcast by @wellcometrust.bsky.social, is back for another season!

The first episode "The arts: can creativity help mental health?" is released today and features Professor Daisy Fancourt speaking on #ArtsAndHealth 🎙️

Listen now: lnk.to/KPParI

New event!

Join our upcoming webinar with NASP, where Professor Daisy Fancourt will be rounding up the major developments in #SocialPrescribing research from the past year 📊

🗓️ Tuesday 21st October, 12-1pm
💻 Online event
👇 Register for free

socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/events/nasp-...

Call for abstracts 💡

Next spring the National Academy for Social Prescribing and partners will be in Greece for the 2nd International Meeting of #ArtsPrescribing in HealthCare 🖌️

Contributions are welcome - find out more and submit yours by 15th October: prescribingart.gr