The world of healthcare is vast, complex, and constantly evolving to meet the needs of an ever-changing population. As the environment changes, new paradigms emerge, and one of the most notable ones is social prescription.
We recently saw an example of a doctor prescribing STEPN to a patient (see tweet below) and it made us really happy.
In the new two-part series “Social Prescription: Healing through STEPN” We will take a closer look at this approach and how this new paradigm can be used to revolutionize the way we view preventive care and treatment.
Today we’ll start by looking at what social prescribing is and how it can affect our overall health.
Next we’ll cover how this goes far beyond physical health and can help us tackle the growing mental health crisis. Buckle up and start exploring!
About social prescriptions
Social prescribing was originally designed in the UK in the 1990s. Physicians were increasingly recognizing that much of a patient’s well-being was tied to their social situation as well as their physical health.
Their offices were filled with people seeking help with issues that medicine alone could not solve: loneliness, stress, anxiety, and the effects of living in a socioeconomically deprived environment.
In response, pioneering medical professionals began to move beyond the boundaries of traditional medicine. Their goal was to find ways to support patients’ health and well-being beyond prescribing medications or treatments. This concept paved the way for social prescriptions.
So what exactly is social prescription? It is a non-medical approach to health and wellness that connects patients to community services and activities. This can include anything from referring patients to a gardening club to participating in art or music therapy sessions, or even developing healthy exercise habits using STEPN!
Examples of social prescriptions
The beauty of social prescribing is its simplicity and focus on holistic health. We recognize that our well-being is influenced by a variety of factors, many of which lie outside the realm of traditional medicine.
By helping individuals take advantage of community resources and activities, social prescribing seeks to address these social determinants of health, ultimately aiming to improve overall well-being, reduce loneliness, and ease the burden on health services. do.
The number of people supporting the growth of this movement is growing. For example, the National Parks Prescription (ParkRx) leverages the positive impact nature has on mental health to encourage health care providers to prescribe time in nature to improve patients’ health and well-being.
Similarly, there are now formal initiatives such as the NHS exercise recommendations in the UK and the ‘Prescription for Active Activity’ in Canada, where health professionals prescribe physical activity as part of a comprehensive health strategy.
Closing Thoughts
As we look to the future of healthcare, the importance of social prescribing is becoming increasingly clear. Research shows a worrying trend that despite advances in medical technology, physical health across society is worsening. Sedentary lifestyles are becoming more common, and the World Health Organization (WHO) says physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for death globally, causing an estimated 3.2 million deaths worldwide.
STEPN and social prescribing can be a beacon of hope. STEPN promotes a healthier lifestyle by gamifying physical activity and encouraging users to walk more, creating motivation and a sense of accomplishment that perfectly aligns with the principles of social prescribing.
Sometimes the simplest actions, like taking a walk, can have the biggest impact on our health.