Social Prescribing to Advance Health Equity

Globally, there is growing recognition of a crisis of loneliness and social isolation. These concerns are detrimental to health, with some estimates that loneliness is just as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Mental health concerns are also rising, with increases in depression and anxiety seen especially in youth and young adult populations. The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory describes the importance of social connection and community in fostering healthy, resilient communities and individuals across the life course. However, existing healthcare systems cannot sufficiently address individual and population well-being alone.  In our newest policy brief, social prescribing is explored as a pathway for equitable outcomes. It provides an innovative approach that meets people where they are by personalizing social care to patients’ interests and whole identities (rather than medicalization and diagnoses alone).