Social Prescribing
Social prescribing is an approach that connects people to activities, groups, and services in their community to meet the practical, social, and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing.
Social prescribing workers give people time to focus on asking themselves, ‘What matters to me?’ to prioritise their individual needs. Patients work with social prescribers to coproduce a simple personalised care and support plan, and support people to take control of their health and wellbeing.
Social prescribing is an all-age, whole population approach that works particularly well for people who:
- have one or more long term conditions
- who need support with low level mental health issues
- who are lonely or isolated
- who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing
Wellbeing walk
During Mental Health Awareness Week in May, in which the chosen theme was ‘anxiety’, the PCN Personalised Care Team and local community partners organised a community wellbeing walk from Buckhurst Way Clinic to Roding Valley. The event concluded with light refreshments at Buckhurst Way Clinic. Anxiety is a prevalent mental health issue, and engaging in outdoor exercise and connecting with others can help promote positive mental wellbeing. Approximately 24 individuals took part in the walk and expressed their enjoyment and satisfaction with the event.
‘What was also refreshing was to meet like-minded people who are all going through their own issues ,such as anxiety, rehabilitation, loneliness amongst other issues. This event brought us all together, and the walk was very therapeutic’ Participant from Loughton.
The PCN Personalised Care Team, in collaboration with local partners, intends to organise additional health and wellbeing activities such as Wellbeing Wednesdays and community gardening project in the coming months.
