TY - JOUR

T1 - Social Prescribing: an inadequate response to the degradation of social care in mental health

AU - Poole, Rob

AU - Huxley, Peter

PY - 2024/2

Y1 - 2024/2

N2 - Social prescribing is poorly defined and there is little evidence for its effectiveness. It cannot address the social determinants of mental health and it is unlikely to produce enduring change for that part of the population that suffers the worst physical and mental health, namely the most deprived and marginalised. It has emerged at a time of growing health inequity. This has occurred alongside the neglect of social care and of the social aspects of mental health intervention. Social prescribing gives a false impression of addressing social factors, and as such is counterproductive. We can do better than this.

AB - Social prescribing is poorly defined and there is little evidence for its effectiveness. It cannot address the social determinants of mental health and it is unlikely to produce enduring change for that part of the population that suffers the worst physical and mental health, namely the most deprived and marginalised. It has emerged at a time of growing health inequity. This has occurred alongside the neglect of social care and of the social aspects of mental health intervention. Social prescribing gives a false impression of addressing social factors, and as such is counterproductive. We can do better than this.

U2 - 10.1192/bjb.2023.61

DO - 10.1192/bjb.2023.61

M3 - Review article

C2 - 37526058

VL - 48

SP - 30

EP - 33

JO - BJPsych Bulletin

JF - BJPsych Bulletin

SN - 2056-4694

IS - 1

ER -