Health empowerment scripts: Simplifying social/green prescriptions

Area of Science:

• Integrative Health
• Public Health
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Social prescribing, a non-pharmaceutical healthcare approach, is gaining traction for its psychological and physiological benefits.
• Evidence suggests links between human health improvements and planetary health.
• Systemic barriers like participation duration, access, suitability, and unpredictable variables hinder widespread social prescribing implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore social prescribing from a multidisciplinary, salutogenic, and nature-based health perspective.
• To identify and address systemic barriers impeding the broader application of social prescribing.
• To propose patient-level recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness and accessibility of social prescribing.

Main Methods:

• A multidisciplinary commentary integrating salutogenic and nature-based health principles.
• Analysis of existing evidence on the benefits and barriers of social prescribing.
• Development of actionable patient-level recommendations.

Main Results:

• Social prescribing demonstrates significant psychological benefits (reduced anxiety, depression; improved mood) and physiological benefits (reduced cardiovascular disease risk, hypertension).
• Numerous barriers impede consistent participation and wider adoption.
• Patient-level strategies can mitigate systemic barriers.

Conclusions:

• Social prescribing offers a promising avenue for holistic health improvement, connecting individual well-being with planetary health.
• Overcoming barriers requires a concerted effort, including clear communication, commitment, accessibility, co-design, support, and mindfulness.
• Implementing these recommendations can facilitate broader and more effective utilization of social prescribing.