Founded in 2022, Social Prescribing USA aims to help all Americans access social prescribing by amplifying existing initiatives, championing the launch of new, research-backed pilots, and providing resources for both practitioners as well as the general public.
But what is social prescribing?
According to the nonprofit’s website, “Social prescribing is a model of care delivery that enables health professionals to formally prescribe non-clinical community activities—including the arts, movement, nature, and service (volunteering)—to improve patient health, and at minimal patient cost.” In short, it’s a way of expanding the toolkit of health professionals beyond the traditional prescriptions that we pick up at the pharmacy.
“At their core, social prescribing interventions are designed to help patients experience the health benefits of social connection, a known determinant of health,” the organization states on its website. Besides the impact on mental health, social connection reduces the risk of coronary artery disease and stroke, dementia, diabetes, addiction relapse and more.
The organization achieves its goals through research, education, networking, and resources like a newsletter and recommended reading.
While social prescribing has already taken off overseas, it’s still relatively new to the U.S. The group is currently involved in eight pilot projects across the country.
One nationwide initiative, Campus Nature Rx, is an alliance of 82 colleges and universities that aim to nurture healthy, nature-connected campus communities and improve student mental health through engagement with outdoor activities.
Another, Park Rx America, is a nonprofit whose mission is to integrate nature into healthcare, and features a map of park prescribing initiatives in the U.S., as well as advice for patients on how to talk about nature prescriptions with their doctors.
To learn more and to see how your organization can get involved, visit socialprescribingusa.com. RM
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