A new community-powered mental health initiative is launching across Sussex, focusing on improving young people’s mental health by placing trusted local people—like youth workers, volunteers, and community members—at the centre of support.
The initiative is part of the CATALYST project (Co-designing and Testing an Asset-Based, Task-Sharing Approach to Youth Mental Health), funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS) and led by a team of researchers at the University of Sussex.
At the heart of the project are two key roles:
- Link Workers – trained individuals from local charities and community organisations who provide direct support to young people and mentor others.
- Community Mentors – everyday people already supporting youth in their communities, who are trained by Link Workers to offer mental health support in safe, familiar spaces.
These local champions are equipped with a practical handbook and toolkit to guide their work. They help young people feel more connected, talk through challenges, set goals, solve problems, and find hope—all in places chosen by the young person, such as youth centres or community hubs.
Managing the project, ARC KSS Post Doctoral Research Fellow, Dr Devyn Glass explains:
“CATALYST is about building support around young people in the places they already trust. Link Workers and Community Mentors are the bridge between clinical care and everyday life—they listen, adapt, and empower.”
The project is currently being piloted in three areas of Sussex, each with its own local delivery partner and tailoring the approach to fit local needs.
- Brighton and Hove – through the Hangleton & Knoll Project
- West Sussex – in partnership with West Sussex Mind
- Hastings – at the YMCA Downslink Group.
Joanna Martindale, Chief Executive Officer, Hangleton & Knoll Project, says: "Young people have told us that they want support to navigate their lives and that support to be available in a place where they feel comfortable, we are delighted to be part of the Catalyst project and to be working together for young people."
Kim Anthony, Head of children, young people and family services, West Sussex Mind, says: “We are delighted to be part of this innovative research to rethink how we support young people with their mental health in the community. As one of the link worker organisations, Catalyst is a great opportunity for us to develop the skills of our youth mental health team, train community mentors, building on our existing partnerships, and improve mental health outcomes for young people in West Sussex.”
YMCA DownsLink Group Head of Operations East Sussex, Kirsten McCarthy, says: “We are delighted to be part of this community initiative and to work with young people in Hastings around mental health support.”
About the CATALYST Project
CATALYST is a research-driven initiative designed to rethink how mental health support is delivered to young people (16-24 years) - especially in communities where access to traditional services is limited. The project is:
- Community-based: Support is delivered by people already embedded in young people’s lives.
- Strength-focused: It builds on the existing skills, relationships, and resources within communities.
- Task-shared: Non-clinical staff are trained to provide support typically offered by mental health professionals.
The project also aims to reduce inequalities in access to care, particularly for disadvantaged groups, by making support more flexible, approachable, and rooted in real-life settings. Following the pilot phase, the model will be evaluated for effectiveness and scalability, with the potential to expand to other regions across the UK.
Download the CATALYST case study.
Learn more about the CATALYST project here.
