Journal Article (Australian)
Published: 6 March 2025
Brief Summary:
Does social prescribing address social determinants of health?
What is the aim?
To discuss whether the social prescribing schemes address social determinants of health.
Results/Outcomes:
The scale of the services under social prescribing schemes is so selective and setting-specific that we should exercise caution when trying to claim that it addresses social determinants of health and related inequalities.
Clearly, social prescribing brings support to a small and often select group of people at the individual level. However, it is like a tiny drop compared to what the social determinants of health advocates expect to see happening. It must be made crystal clear that social prescribing is a small endeavor downstream that may temporarily mitigate some of the social problems that result in adverse health outcomes.