Non-medical response needed for people struggling to come out of lockdown

Governments should back ‘social prescribing’ to help those struggling with loneliness and social isolation in the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown, consumer health advocates say.

Consumer health advocates in Australia were disappointed the government’s 10-year primary care plan announced didn’t include social prescribing. Picture: iStock

The pathway post-Covid-19 is an opportunity for governments to introduce “social prescribing” to help those experiencing loneliness, anxiety and declining mental health with a non-medical response, health advocates say.

As large parts of the nation emerge from lockdown a “shadow pandemic” is being left behind, said Jo Winwood, head of the Be Someone for Someone advocacy group, with growing psychological distress among teens, young adults and older Australians.

But rather than a clinical approach using antidepressants and sleeping pills, Ms Winwood argued the health system should be supporting people to reconnect with their communities and family through greater social support, a concept known as “social prescribing”.

“People are supported to achieve their social health goals, through community activities – volunteering, arts and culture, and environment are examples,” Ms Winwood said.

“For some, help in planning is enough, whilst others need support to get socially fit. Personalisation is essential.

“Compared to medical prescribing, social prescribing treats the cause of isolation-related illness, rather than band-aid the symptoms.

“Most of the people we’ve supported tell us it wasn’t a pill or a mental health plan they needed, just a helping hand to reconnect.”

The concept is proving successful in the UK, where under the NHS GPs can refer patients to a case manager to help them with a plan for greater connection back into the community.

Consumer health advocates in Australia were disappointed the government’s 10-year primary care plan announced last week didn’t include social prescribing.

“Sadly the new plan doesn’t mention it, but it should be an integral part of a national primary care plan, ” Consumer Health Forum chief executive Leanne Wells said. “A sense of connection with community and family contribute just as much to wellness and supporting chronic conditions.”