Embedding Belonging and Connection in Social Prescribing
Explore what is social prescribing and learn how intentional relationship-building can enhance engagement, reduce social isolation, and improve wellbeing. Discover why belonging and social connection are essential to effective social prescribing and how they contribute to better physical, mental, and social wellbeing.
Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much. — Helen Keller
Hello our dear readers. We are together here again to take our conversation on belonging ahead. As we are now well acquainted with the background and importance of the community-based programs and practices across the globe which have instilled belonging and social connection. We will now redirect our attention to an emerging yet promising field of knowledge called as social prescribing - an innovative approach that recognizes that health is shaped not only by medical care but also by our social connections, sense of purpose, and belonging.
Community is much more than belonging to something; it’s about doing something together that makes belonging matter.— Brian Solis
Healing yourself is connected with healing others. -Yoko Ono
We know that social isolation and loneliness have been linked to poorer health outcomes, increased healthcare utilization, and reduced quality of life. Thus, belonging is a public health necessity.
What is Social Prescribing?
What if a medical doctor could prescribe a walking group, a community garden, a cultural association, or a volunteer opportunity instead of another medication to their patient? Are you surprised to read this, or do you think it sounds humorous? Or is it a pleasing idea to you? Let’s make sense of this.
Social prescribing or community/social referral programmes as it is sometimes referred to, directly addresses the challenge of loneliness by helping people build relationships, participate in community life, develop a stronger sense of identity and purpose, and access preventive, even curative health options.
The essence of social prescribing lies in its community engagement approaches wherein it is used as a practical and human-centered solution that strengthens both public health and community belonging. Social prescribing is a process through which healthcare providers connect individuals to non-clinical community resources, groups, services and activities that can meet their social and psychological needs and thereby improve their overall health and well-being.
Social prescribing is an intuitive way to prevent the effects of depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, social prescribing addresses the social, emotional, and environmental factors and other underlying causes that influence health. Individuals are often referred to a link worker, community navigator, or social prescribing coordinator who helps identify their interests, needs, and goals, and then assists them with connecting to relevant, meaningful community opportunities and activities that provide them personalized care and support. The shift in focus from “What is the matter with you?” to, “What matters to you?” in the healthcare services has revolutionized public health in a nuanced way.
In social prescribing, any non-medical resource or community-based activity such as book club, bird watching club, arts class, dance or aerobics sessions,photography peer groups, are encouraged to flourish. The action benefits all: referral networks are strengthened,and social connections are formed sustainably. The social component of the health interventions connects care, culture, and public health in one arc.
Research has shown that non-therapeutic and non-clinical activities practiced in a pro-social atmosphere have been instrumental in initiating well-being, overcoming loneliness, recovering from an illness, and overcoming poor health. It shows how becoming more active in your environment and community can help you prevent certain health outcomes. Research evidence supports the common-sense intuition: when people are in environments and activities that de-stress them, and that are supportive and caring, while connecting them to other people, people’s health and well-being improve. People tend to fall sick less, and this lowers the cost of medical healthcare services, hospitalization and healthcare spending.
The tenets of social prescribing aim to fortify community support systems, improve health and well-being outcomes, optimize use of community healthcare services, decrease pressure on healthcare facilities,increase uptake of alternative healthcare models, and reduce healthcare service costs and health inequality.
The Global Movement on Social Prescribing
The wave of social prescribing as a proven practice and its foundational models were initiated in the United Kingdom (UK) in the 1980s pioneered by community-led health partnerships. Since then, social prescribing has now evolved into a global movement championed by healthcare systems and international organizations as a way to address the non-medical and social determinants of health. Following the setting up of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Commission on Social Determinants of Health in 2005, social prescribing has become a prominent force of action especially in the Global North and higher and middle income countries with the UK being at the forefront. Advocacy, research, information organization and presence of integrated social prescribing networks is strong in the United Kingdom where the practice has institutional coverage beginning at the primary healthcare level. In the UK, there is a mandate that all general physicians (GP) should be handing social prescription to their patients.
In the 21st century, social prescribing has gained traction and public attention with almost 30 countries reportedly used its principles in practice. Social Prescribing Day is celebrated annually on 26th March to raise awareness among the public of this growing practice of connecting community partners and health sector through social activities.The first International Social Prescribing Conference was held in London, UK in 2018 hosted by the Social Prescribing Network. To date, about six such conferences have been held bringing together practitioners,researchers, community organizations, advocates and their ideas to the policy formulation table. Needless to say, the World Health Organization has steered the conversation around social prescribing in the landmark report from the WHO Commission on Social Connection underlying loneliness and social isolation as under-recognized determinants of health. The report was a call to action and an urge to stakeholders outlining the practical scalable solutions for strengthening social connection.
WHO has further created a toolkit outlining the measures needed to implement schemes, adapting them to local settings and also scaling up community interventions. WHO also supported to the Global Social Prescribing Alliance (GSPA) to develop a strategic resource named Global Social Prescribing Playbook which provides actionable frameworks, operational tools, and measurement guidelines to help health systems, policymakers, and community organizations shift from a purely medicalized model to one that addresses the social determinants of health. WHO has recognized social prescribing as a critical tool in achieving the objectives laid under the Regional Action Plan on Healthy Ageing in the Western Pacific Region.
In Canada, social prescribing has gained momentum in recent years with focus on particularly vulnerable population groups such as older adults, children and youth, Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC), caregivers, people with mental health concerns. The Canadian Institute of Social Prescribing (CISP), anchored by Canadian Red Cross, works as the national collaborative network connecting evidence, resources, communities, stakeholders and care systems.
Sidenote: Belonging is deeply embedded within the principles of social prescribing.
Belonging is central to the lived experiences of people, and research on belonging informs the tools, policies and programs of social prescribing. Social prescribing acknowledges that well-being is shaped not only in hospitals and clinics but also in parks, libraries, community centres, artistic activities, cultural communities, volunteer groups, and neighbourhood networks. At its core,social prescribing is about helping people reconnect with others, with their communities, and with a sense of purpose, motivated by belonging. Some other examples of social prescribing programs include arts practices, cultural celebrations, language and skills training, youth engagement initiatives, faith-based organizations, peer support collectives, visual and performative arts etc.
Tailoring community programs specific to the individual needs has transformed the healthcare policies from deficit-based to strength-based approach. These are community-based and community-led solutions to counter health challenges, rooted in a person-centered-community-systems approach. It is believed that social prescribing can be the stepping stone for the initiation of behaviour change where community spaces are revalued and repurposed, community partners come together for sustained engagement through social activities.
One of the early steps in social prescribing is undertaking community asset mapping wherein the resources, opportunities, strengths in a community are identified, organized, and community capacity building is strengthened. In this way optimum use of these assets present within the community is ensured. According to the book ‘The Connection Cure’ by Julia Hotz the five components of social prescribing include movement, nature, art, service and belonging. Meanwhile Prof. Daisy Fancourt in her book Art Cure has summarized why artistic pursuits, creative activities, proves immensely important for health and well-being. This is evidenced from numerous studies conducted over the decades which found that regular engagement in arts, especially in community settings, accrues well-being and has measurable impact on health, independent of socio-demographic background, genetics, lifestyle and geographies.
To successfully implement the notions of social prescribing,care must be taken to base it on principles of inclusivity, equity and sustainability. Additionally, personalized plans, cross-sector collaboration,continued social support and community navigation must be the other core practices. Health care and social service providers must be trained and equipped to identify loneliness and social isolation among clients and refer people to social prescribing. Healthcare institutions must lower the barriers towards social prescribing and its uptake.
Loneliness and social isolation are public health challenges in this age of fast-changing lifestyles, technology and information. They need to be managed and that is why social prescribing is at the core of the Solutions for Belonging Framework. Standing on its four integrated dimensions of Presence, Access, Culture and Place, this framework emphasizes reconfiguring community resources, motivations, ideologies and people’s interactions towards co-designing healthy living and overarching well-being for all.
Effective social prescribing, and in turn, belonging as a fundamental human need and right, depends on strong partnerships among healthcare providers, community organizations,municipalities, and social services. As public health systems seek innovative,sustainable, and person-centered approaches, social prescribing offers a powerful pathway forward. It improves well-being, strengthens communities,fosters belonging, and reminds us of a simple truth; healthier communities are built through meaningful human connections and belonging.
Next, we will discuss the why’s and how’s of belonging and social connections among the different population cohorts and the effects on these groups.
Author: Sudeshna Roy
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