Young SPACES – Exploration for the potential of a physical activity intervention to be included within Early Intervention is Psychosis services.

This project aims to complete preliminary work within Early Intervention in Psychosis services (EIP) to explore the possibility of physical activity being included in routine care. This project will underpin a future NIHR grant to further investigate this topic, with the hope to develop a feasible, acceptable, and effective intervention, that will support people in EIP to live a healthier, happier life through being more physically active.

Project objectives are:

1. Build a strong, dynamic, collaborative team with complementary expertise (e.g., methodological, academic, clinical, and lived experiences).
2. Conduct a scoping or systematic review to explore and synthesise existing literature on physical activity in younger people with ‘at risk mental state’ (ARMS) or ‘first episode psychosis’ (FEP.)
3. Conduct patient and public involvement and engagement work with younger people with ARMS or FEP, carers and NHS professionals.
4. Conduct a service mapping exercise of EIP services in two NHS trusts.
5. Knowledge mobilisation of findings through peer reviewed publication and lay outputs.
6. Utilise knowledge generated from the preparatory work to write a competitive NIHR grant application.