An international conference recently put the spotlight on social prescribing under four themes: environment, activity, connection and health (EACH).
Below is a selection of social media posts from the conference hashtag, #EACH24, held at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art and the State Library of NSW on Gadigal nura, Sydney (as shared by @Croakey’s rotated X/Twitter account, @WePublicHealth).
Bookmark this link for coverage of #EACH24 for Croakey Conference News Service – more articles are coming soon from Dr Ruth Armstrong.
#EACH24 delegates write:
Why social prescribing?
#EACH24 presenters spoke about the benefits of social prescribing to address social isolation and loneliness.
“Connectedness [is] a key mechanism for the efficacy of social prescribing,” said Dr Candice Oster, Flinders University. Oster and colleagues published a scoping review titled ‘Models of social prescribing to address non-medical needs in adults‘ in BMC Health Services Research journal in 2023.
Read Dr Amy Coopes’ report from #EACH24 on social isolation and social prescribing here.
Presenters also argued social prescription can be applied to address social determinants of health, pressures on the health workforce, climate change (i.e. via a less carbon intensive healthcare system) and physical health.
Social determinants of health
Changing narratives and priorities
Activities involved in social prescribing
As well as arts on prescription, delegates and presenters spoke about social prescribing interventions and programs using music, forest-bathing, community lifestyle programs and community gardens on prescription.
Places
Many locations already exist in communities where social prescribing could take place, according to #EACH24 presenters – including libraries, community gardens, nature, urban environments and rural and remote communities.
“We have to think differently” when designing environments with “opportunities for connection,” said Professor Evonne Miller, at Queensland University of Technology and Director of the QUT Design Lab.
Who are the key stakeholders?
Primary care, GPs, primary health networks, allied health workers and pharmacists are well placed to implement social prescribing, with many presenters reiterating the importance of place-based and person-centred care.
Dr Uday Yadav said “we have so much to learn from the way ACCHOs [Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations] work. Return the power to the community”.
How is momentum maintained?
A theme at #EACH24 was the importance of building up the evidence-base for social prescribing.
However, longer-term funded research is required, as well as time for effective co-design and collaborations.
Presenters also discussed the need to consider equity, justice, social determinants of health, and structural barriers.
Communities and co-design
Closing remarks
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