Social prescribing: collaboration in times of stability and crisis

This article explores how nurses and nurse education can promote social prescribing even when a country is in crisis.

Since 2016, social prescribing has been accepted as an innovative, non-medical approach to supporting citizens and communities. The newly launched National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) (2020) defines the process of social prescribing as:

‘Supporting people, via social prescribing link workers, to make community connections and discover new opportunities, building on individual strengths and preferences, to improve health and wellbeing.’

Social prescribing connects people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.

There are a number of social prescribing models and, according to Kimberlee (2015), these may be:

A community asset is often denoted as anything that can be used to improve the quality of community life.

Typical social prescribing interventions include nature-based solutions such as structured therapeutic horticulture, yoga or arts on prescription and other community-based groups such as ‘knit and natter’ groups. All social prescribing interventions are services that are provided by the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE).