As a somewhat newcomer to the dialogue on Social Prescribing a little over two years ago at the November 2021 International Federation on Ageing conference, I have since followed this concept with great interest and fervour. With no shortage of outlets to discuss, learn and advocate among colleagues in the field of aging and longevity, the opposite is true in my conversations with everyday people not familiar with Social Prescribing, where most reactions begin with what’s that?
So for those who may be asking at that level, let’s keep it simple. Social Prescribing by way of example can be described as is in two information sources:
“Many things that affect our health can’t be treated by doctors or medicine alone, like loneliness… or stress due to financial pressures or poor housing. Social prescribing connects people to non-medical support to address these issues and other unmet needs.”
“Social prescribing is a healthcare approach where professionals refer patients to non-clinical services like exercise, art, or community activities to improve well-being.”
In Canada over the last two years, Social Prescribing has gained greater recognition professionally thanks in no small part to the efforts of leaders such as Dr. Kate Mulligan – Senior Director,Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing (CISP). In October 2023, I attended the Social Prescribing Virtual Conference hosted by the Toronto based Alliance for Healthier Communities which was highly informative, providing insights on how programs are rolling out.
Advancing Social Prescribing
for Health & Wellbeing
Catching up with Social Prescribing as we are in Canada, relative to other countries such as the UK, in 2024 we are positioned to have a breakout year, an opportunity to increase awareness and help develop a crisp message to encourage citizen advocacy. Though we don’t have to wait to begin those efforts, Canada will host its first International Social Prescribing ConferenceonSept.26-27, 2024 in Toronto, and calls for submissions are now open until Feb. 26th.
Of the five streams under the conference theme Advancing Social Prescribing for Health & Wellbeing, two stand out to me that address issues immediately identifiable and of great interest to everyday people outside the world of clinical and allied healthcare providers: Integrated Care & Community Collaboration (such as grassroots movements and community-centred approaches), and Implementation Practice (such as urban and rural contexts and the role of digital technology).
