Social prescriptions, an innovative approach gaining traction in healthcare, are non-medical actions designed to improve someone’s overall happiness. By connecting individuals to various community-based resources and activities, such as art classes, fitness programs, support groups, garden clubs, and volunteering opportunities, social prescriptions can enhance mental health, reduce social isolation, and promote healthy lifestyles.
Several factors contribute to social prescriptions' potential influence on well-being:
Tackling loneliness and isolation: Social engagement and community involvement help build a sense of belonging, fostering valuable connections that promote mental and emotional health.
Stress reduction: Participation in enjoyable activities, such as art or exercise, can alleviate stress and anxiety, improving mental health and overall quality of life.
Encouraging healthy habits: Engagement in physical activities or skill-building programs can lead to the adoption of healthier routines, supporting long-term well-being and preventing chronic health issues.
Empowering individuals: By offering non-clinical support that complements traditional healthcare, social prescriptions empower patients to take greater control of their health and well-being, fostering self-value and resilience.
Sarah Crane, DO, Northern Light Primary Care, feels this approach is vitally important. The surgeon general has even recommended emphasizing self-care with patients- including clean diet, physical activity, socialization, sleep, and time for introspection -as a way to help decrease stress and improve overall health. She says, “We regularly find that prescriptions help patients prioritize their own self-care as this usually requires reducing or delegating other responsibilities. It can be a challenge for all of us to remember that we can't pour from an empty cup.”
Chris Laird, MSN, MBA, CCRN-K, CENP, CNML, AVP, Nursing Operations, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, says, “Social prescribing is indeed a valuable approach that recognizes the importance of addressing the social determinants of health to improve overall health outcomes. By connecting patients to non-clinical services such as exercise classes, social clubs, community gardening, financial advice, and more enhances patient care by considering the broader context of an individual's life, leading to improved mental, physical, and social well-being.
Social prescriptions represent an important step toward more holistic, person-centered care, addressing the social, emotional, and practical aspects of well-being that traditional medicine alone may not fully capture. Sounds like exactly what we need these days! If this feels right to you, talk to your primary care provider for more information.
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