Social prescribing for mental health: Role and benefits

With one in four people experiencing a mental health problem and one in six living with anxiety and depression in England, the pressure on the NHS has never been greater. This is why social prescribing is now being used increasingly in the NHS as a non-medical intervention to improve mental health and wellbeing that doesn’t come in a prescribed tube, bottle or pill box.

Twenty-three per cent of people are waiting for more than 12 weeks to start treatment, plus a further 48 per cent of adults say the long wait led to their mental health getting worse, with many so desperate, they turn to A&E or dial 999, according to The Royal College of Psychiatrists.

A Westminster University report found if a person has support through social prescribing, their GP consultations reduce by an average of 28 per cent and A&E attendances reduce by 24 per cent.

What is social prescribing for mental health?

Social prescribing is a holistic, non-medical approach where GPs, nurses and other primary care professionals help people access activities and support in their local community, giving people greater control over their health and wellbeing.

Every GP surgery should have a social prescriber within its team. They are also called link workers and community connectors.

Who benefits from social prescribing?

Social prescribing can be beneficial to people who: 

• Are experiencing anxiety or depression
• Are lonely or isolated
• Are struggling after a bereavement
• Are struggling after having a baby
• Find it hard to cope with retirement
• Have long-term conditions 
• Have complex social needs 
• Are in debt 
• Are unemployed
• Have housing or mobility issues 
• Are addicts struggling with substance abuse and alcohol

What do social prescribers do? 

Social prescribers connect people with non-medical support, such as day centres, charities or community groups to reduce loneliness and improve quality of life.

Social prescribers are good listeners who can put people at ease and gain their trust and give people the help and support they need.

Anyone who has experience of offering advice or support within the community can apply to be a social prescriber.  

Social prescribers can: 

• Talk to you in a confidential practical, helpful way without judging you
• Get you involved in local groups and activities
• Help with befriending, counselling and other support groups
• Help you deal with bereavement, retirement or a new baby
• Help with advice regarding benefits and give financial support 
• Help with transport or volunteering

A social prescription could also introduce you to activities such as 

• Volunteering 
• Arts activities
• Dance
• Singing 
• Group learning
• Gardening
• Fishing
• Cookery 
• Healthy eating advice 
• Taking part in a range of sports including team games such as football, netball, and hockey

How do I make an appointment to see a social prescriber?

You will need to contact your GP practice to find out if this service is available to you. If so, you can make an appointment yourself. 

GPs, practice nurses and receptionists can also refer you to a social prescriber.

Can social prescribing be good for people living with dementia?

Social prescribing activities have been found to benefit people living with dementia. For some this may be a walking group and for others an art class. But for many people living with dementia, music can be incredibly powerful.

Music activities for people living with dementia can take many forms whether this is a personalised playlist of songs, a community choir, a drumming session, or a dance group that combines music and physical activity. 

The charity Music for Dementia found music can improve quality of life, reduce agitation and reduce the need for medication in 67 per cent of people living with dementia.

Comedian Angie Belcher offers social wellbeing courses using comedy

Comedian in residence at Bristol University and lecturer in comedy at Worcester University, Angie Belcher works with NHS social prescribers and health advisors around the country to provide a free six week wellbeing course.

The participants who sign up for the Comedy on Referral course are from all walks of life including people experiencing anxiety and depression, recovering alcoholics and drug addicts as well as those who suffer from PTSD. 

By the end of the course, it’s hoped participants will be able to perform five minutes of stand-up based on their own life.

Ms Belcher says: “I wanted some time to find out whether the process of stand-up comedy would help people recover from trauma and thankfully, the Arts Council thought it was an awesome idea.

“The course I am delivering is all about the process of learning stand up comedy. It’s not about putting you in front of an audience. It’s about needing time to build a relationship with the people who come along.

“It’s getting people to have confidence in their experience of the world and their humanity is important and it just so happens I can help you to make your experience sound really funny as well.

“The course is built on confidence building which in turn creates transferable skills for people to prepare them for interviews, presenting and networking skills.

“It’s exactly the same process as learning to be a stand up comedian.”

Social prescribing for men’s health

Ms Belcher has also delivered a social prescribing course in London specifically for men at risk of suicide. 

Middle-aged men from disadvantaged backgrounds are most at risk of dying by suicide. In 2021, there were 5,583 suicides in England and Wales and nearly three-quarters of these were by men (4,129 deaths), according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS).  

Ms Belcher says: “We now bring up men where we say right let’s talk about it to encourage people to share their problems in the hope that they are not seen as bad, and it makes you think you are in a community with other people where you know you are not alone. 

“I have always worked with those who always had a rough deal in life, who had trauma in their life and come from bad upbringings who struggled with drugs. That was really important to me. I just notice that comedy helps those who do struggle with life.

“The important thing is sharing it and talking about it and dealing with it.”

Social prescribing can be successful for men

Dr Jagan John, chair of the North East London Clinical Commissioning Group and clinical director for personalised care in London said: “We know one in five GP appointments are about issues wider than health, especially for people living in areas of high deprivation.  

“This is where social prescribing can demonstrate its value in linking people to community-based services that provide coordinated, integrated, and proactive care.

“One that resonates for me is an elderly gentleman living in a local residential care setting. He had lots of health issues but was also very lonely. 

“Our link worker picked up there was a piano in his room and after doing some research, she found out he had previously been a concert pianist that toured through Europe. 

“He was connected to some local music groups and is now offering free piano lessons to local families. He is less socially isolated, feels like he is contributing to his local community.”