The Australian Social Prescribing Institute of Research and Education (ASPIRE) hosted a Canberra roundtable marking world Social Prescribing Day. Dozens of healthcare and welfare organisations attended to call for investment and integration of social prescribing into primary healthcare.

“Social prescribing charts a new way forward for healthcare that better connects patients with community services and programs, empowers and support patients to better manage their health and wellbeing,” said the Hon Ged Kearney, Assistant Minister for Health.

Indeed, ASPIRE’s consensus statement emphasises the tangible health and economic benefits of adopting social prescribing: for the individual, it reduces psychiatric morbidities of depression and anxiety, and increases the health literacy and social connectivity. For the strained Australian healthcare system, it can reduce the number of hospital admissions and general practice clinic visits.

“Social prescribing should be a key part of Australia’s health system, available to everyone. It supports the quintuple aim by improving wellbeing and opportunities for the community and healthcare workers, enhancing clinical care, boosting cost efficiency, and enriching patient experiences. It addresses a spectrum of needs – physical, practical, material, environmental, social and emotional”, reads ASPIRE’s consensus statement.

The roundtable highlighted key international evidence supporting the myriad of benefits in integrating social prescribing such as in the Netherlands, social prescribing reduced the number of consultations for psychosocial presentations by 57%.

Abbey Deguara, co-chair of the Australian Medical Student’s Association (AMSA) Social Prescribing Student Collective represented medical students at the roundtable.

“The roundtable highlighted how we can shift the focus of health systems from reactive to preventative care, where we ask patients what matters most to you, rather than what’s the matter with you. Social prescribing can be a tool to empower patients to have autonomy over their health whilst also connecting them to community. This notion was unanimously supported by health professionals and over fifty leading healthcare, community and welfare-focused organisations attending the roundtable,” said Abbey.

Recognising social prescribing in healthcare policies and guidelines will be a step in the right direction in enhancing all Australians’ health. The roundtable called for the actualisation of deliverables to ensure a successful and national adoption of social prescribing.

Firstly, the Australian government must show leadership and initiative in supporting social prescribing. The New South Wales government insurer icare funded a pilot study and found every dollar into a social prescribing program called Plus Social provided a return of $3.84. Further, the Australian government should predominantly fund the rollout, and leverage existing services and primary healthcare providers to adapt the social prescribing practices.

“Social prescribing needs to become a part of the fabric of the Australian community,” concludes the ASPIRE statement, “to look ‘beyond the pill’ to how they can live a better life.”

AMSA is the peak representative body for the over 18,000 medical students across Australia. The AMSA Social Prescribing Student Collective was formed in 2021 to educate medical students and advocate for the integration of social prescribing into the Australian healthcare system and medical curriculum.

“Medical students play a pivotal role in this integration, serving as future leaders in healthcare who can bridge the gap between medical interventions and social interventions,” states Winnie Theresa, co-chair of the Australian Medical Student’s Association (AMSA) Social Prescribing Student Collective.

“By embracing and encouraging social prescribing practices, we can contribute to a healthcare system that empower patients and cultivates community collaborations. Together, we can shape a future where healthcare is not just about treating illnesses, but also about enhancing quality of life and fostering wellness for everyone.”