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Doctors Want People To Get Out And Socialize
Take that to the pharmacy // Image by Kait Cunniff with DALL-E
Doctors around the world are turning to “social prescribing” to treat two growing ills — mental health and loneliness.
Why It Heals: While mental-health issues and chronic loneliness have become more socially accepted as legitimate concerns over the past decade, they’ve been treated mostly with individualized therapy and medication. Both are critical to care, but they miss a necessary ingredient in today’s fractured and isolated world — the healing effect of community.
Behind The Prescriptions: Sometimes, a good book club or running club is exactly what the doctor ordered, according to Insider.
Social prescribing is when a doctor refers a patient to a specific community service or social activity. They often partner with organizations, such as Art Pharmacy, that evaluate and recommend which activities best suit the patient.
The movement started in the UK, where 1.3 million people now receive social prescriptions. The country has 3,000 “link workers,” who function like social workers by connecting people with groups that match their availability and comfort levels.
It’s now popping up in the US and Canada, with universities like Stanford University and organizations like Social Prescribing USA expanding the practice. Still, participating programs are mostly on the coasts for now.
According to studies out of the UK and Canada, investment in social prescription programs yielded significant returns. And the World Health Organization found positive outcomes from the programs in limited studies.
Last Dose: As social media, AI, and chronic overworking isolate people in digital bubbles, the need for socialization feels more necessary than ever. Former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared loneliness a health epidemic, and there’s currently a 74% deficit in needed mental-health experts.
In other words, we’re in a bit of a crisis… and everyone having a few more friends may be one of the key ways to turn things around.
Next Refill: Considering Gen Z’s growing log-off movement, the hottest new cultural trend may be having a calendar filled with community-minded activities. We could all benefit from being a part of some club.
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Today’s email was written by David Vendrell.
Edited by Nick Comney. Polled and Copy-edited by Kait Cunniff.
Published by Darline Salazar.