Social
Prescribing-What is it?
The
theme for this year’s mental health week was loneliness, it’s still imperative
to think about all areas of mental health.
The
pandemic has not only made some people feel more isolated than ever, but it has
also increased things like health anxiety, but there are also global events
(like the invasion of Ukraine and the rising inflation) has added the anxiety
and stress than ever before.
We’re
in the middle of a mental health crisis with 38% of general practitioners now
having a mental health element, as compared with 25% before Covid.
This
increased demand is making a strain on resources and people are simply struggling
to get the help they need.
And,
this is where social prescribing comes in handy.
What
is social prescribing?
Social
prescribing refers to when mental health professionals refer their patients to
a range of local, non-clinical services to improve their health and wellbeing.
So
social prescribing addresses people’s needs in a holistic way without any medications.
It
works by encouraging people to engage in activities that are meaningful and they
can enjoy, by connecting to other people.
Social
prescribing is particularly used in primary care of general practitioners where
social activities are focused on instead of medication, for mental health
problems such as depression.
This
can include activities such as exercise, playing sports, joining different community
groups and NGOs, indulging in art, drama, volunteering and more.
What
are the benefits?
It
is now being recognised that our mental health services are heavily reliant on a
medical approach then emotional distress.
This
has led to one in six people taking antidepressants every year and the rates
are higher for women, older people and poorer people.
While
antidepressants and drugs can be beneficial for some people, they can also have
side effects and can sometimes lead to addiction – so other alternative options
need to be considered.
So,
social prescribing is gradually being introduced as an alternative to antidepressants
or other medications.
It
avoids implying that there is something dysfunctional about people’s brains, for
instance, the unproven “chemical imbalance” myth pedalled by the drug industry.
This
approach encourages us to use our own resources to combat mental health
problems.
It’s
also more cost-effective as an initial option.
What’s
the science behind it?
There’s
growing evidence that social prescribing can lead to positive health and wellbeing.
Studies
have proved in improvements of quality of life and emotional wellbeing, mental
and general wellbeing as well, and a decrease in the levels of depression and
anxiety.
One
evaluation of a social prescribing project showed improvements in anxiety
levels and feelings about health and quality of life.
In
2019, the NHS announced the inclusion of social prescribing into their inclusive
model of personalized care.
This
new model aims to allow people, especially those who have more complex needs,
to take better control of their health and care. It also plans for a minimum of
900,000 people to be referred for social prescribing by the year 2023/24.
Social
prescribing can work for many people, including those:
· Having
one or more long-term conditions.
· who
needs help with their mental health?
· People
who are lonely or isolated?
· who
has complex social needs affecting their wellbeing?
Are
there disadvantages to social prescribing?
It’s
worth noticing, those who suffer from social anxiety, social prescribing may
work in the same way as exposure therapy, and the patient could feel forced to
do a community activity.
So,
some patients may find themselves in certain uncomfortable situations, which
may increase their anxiety.
Another
concern is that it might trivialize the pain and difficulty of loneliness which
can easily be solved with some chat.
If
a general practitioner gives someone a social prescription, he feels more
disheartened and incompetent when he walked in.
But,
overall, the benefits of social prescribing outweigh the disadvantages.