Social Prescribing
The reason people are mentally and physically ill are usually social and economic.
People need friends and a feeling of belonging.
They need a sense of purpose.
Financial security.
A safe home and hope for the future.
I read a story about a group of lonely, anxious strangers who were tasked with restoring a park over several months. During the course of the project they formed meaningful emotional bonds with others in the group.
They ended the project with friends, a little hope and a healthier life.
As far as I understand, this approach to healthcare was pioneered by the Bromley-by-Bow center in London. Their website lists out 6 categories of social prescriptions:
• Housing, benefits, financial and advice
• Employment, training and volunteering
• Education and learning
• Healthy lifestyle advice and physical activity
• Arts, gardening, creative activities
• Befriending, counseling and groups
The key difference between a social prescription and going to a random one-off pottery workshop is:
- The value is a function of time and contact, it needs to be in-person and should last at least 6 weeks.
- Your project must mean something to you. A 6-week pottery course won't cut it if nobody in the group cares about pottery.
- If the project is too easy, or feels overwhelming, it won't work. As a group you need to pick something at the edge of your collective abilities.
I'm not clinically depressed or anxious but if a network of options like this existed, I'd love to do a six week project around something meaningful with a group of strangers.
This just sounds like fun.
...
Links to stuff I mentioned:
• The Bromley-by-Bow Centre https://www.bbbc.org.uk/social-prescribing/
• Social prescribing in the NHS https://www.england.nhs.uk/personalise.../social-prescribing
• An example of social prescribing
https://nicheless.blog/post/socialrx