mPower’s Community Navigators are using Social Prescribing every day to give people better choices about how they can connect with their local communities. Social interaction can positively impact our health and well-being, but often people don’t know what is available locally or how to access groups and resources. The mPower teams give project beneficiaries the information they need as well as signpost them to relevant services. Beneficiaries are then able to make positive choices to get involved with whatever interests them, whether that be an art class, gardening group, choir or becoming a volunteer.
Statistics show that people often see their doctor or healthcare professional for social problems and welfare advice. For these people, social prescribing can help to improve quality of life, emotional state and general well-being, as well as reducing levels of depression, anxiety and social isolation. Social prescribing can also play an important role in tackling many of the social causes of ill health and provide support to patients living with chronic diseases.
Our teams will be out and about today, Thursday March 14th to help spread the word about what the mPower project can offer – both through Social Prescribing and Technology Enabled Healthcare (TEC).