What is social prescribing?
Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a surge in mental health challenges, leading to heightened demand for NHS and GP services. A non-pharmaceutical approach to tackle this problem is called social prescribing, an alternative way of therapy, which relies on social intervention to help people.
80% of patients referred to a social prescribing scheme had reduced their use of A&E outpatient appointments and inpatient admissions.
For people who are stressed, lonely or anxious, social prescribing is seen to be a better remedy than drug prescription. The idea is for people struggling with mental health to join communities involved with sports, arts, and the environment. It brings people together in an environment which allows them to de-stress by doing something they love.
Social prescribing network
Sian Brand is a freelance consultant who currently supports the East of England Regional NHS Social Prescribing. Her roles include supporting link workers, commissioning systems and Primary care networks in understanding this new model of health.
She believes that drugs, medication, surgery, and the medical model will “always have a place in people’s health” but states it’s a “fantastic model of health but a very dependent model”. This increased the development of social prescribing as a more idealistic way of therapy.
Sport in Mind charity
The charity ‘Sport in Mind’ dedicates itself to assisting individuals coping with mental illness. Laura Brookes is the head of adult services at Sport in Mind whose primary responsibility is to support a team in organising several sports sessions for anyone over 17 experiencing mental health issues.
When talking about what services they provide, Ms Brookes said: “We do sessions completely free, we provide all of the equipment and give people the ability to come along in a really safe non-judgmental fun environment where you can play sport to whatever degree you like.”
The sessions have great outcomes for those who come. Laura Brookes said: “Relationships are built, people are left feeling more confident and a lot of people that come to our sessions usually grow so much in confidence that they usually end up volunteering in the sessions.”
Relationships are built, people are left feeling more confident and a lot of people that come to our sessions usually grow so much in confidence that they usually end up volunteering in the sessions.
How can this help university students?
For students, living at university can also be very isolating, particularly after experiencing the lockdowns. Ryan Smith is a student at the Arts University in Bournemouth and started yoga as a coping mechanism.
He said: “It is a nice and sociable thing to do, and it helps me get out of the house. It’s also a session for beginners so it’s very meditative and relaxed and we always say how great it makes us feel.”
This video portrays a student who finds time to balance his hobbies and social life, with university and tells us how.
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