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Social Prescribing: How community connections can combat loneliness and lead to better health

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HSE Press Release- Thursday, 9th March 2023

 

International Social Prescribing Day (Thursday, 9th March 2023) is a celebration of social prescribing, highlighting the impact this HSE-funded service can have on the health and wellbeing of people across the country.

 

The aim of social prescribing is to connect adults over 18 to community groups, organisations and statutory services for practical and emotional support via the support of a Social Prescribing Link worker. 

 

Social prescribing is an initiative that can improve the wellbeing of a wide range of individuals including people who are socially isolated, lonely, have long-term conditions and mental health difficulties. All HSE-funded social prescribing services are delivered by the HSE’s community partners such as Local Development Companies and Family Resource Centres

 

Helen Deely, Assistant National Director, HSE Health and Wellbeing said: “Social prescribing has been made more widely available over the last year. There are now more than forty social prescribing services funded by the HSE across the country, 19 of which are located in Slaintecare Healthy Communities sites. We are delighted to say that from 2023 we will have at least one social prescribing service available in every county in Ireland.”

 

On March 9th, HSE-funded social prescribing services will be hosting a range of events to publicise and celebrate social prescribing across the country.

 

Lisa Sieger-Jamison, Social Prescribing Coordinator from the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Social Prescribing Programme for Health & Wellbeing said:  “Social Prescribing focuses on ‘What Matters to the Person’ rather than ‘What is the Matter with the Person’. It empowers people to take an active role in their health and wellbeing, promotes autonomy and encourages a healthy lifestyle. People who were previously isolated can build meaningful connections and establish a sense of belonging within their community and the impact can be truly transformative on people’s lives.”

 

Further details of events taking place as part of the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Public Social Prescribing programme to mark this day are available here.

 

Meanwhile, referrals to the social prescribing link worker come from various sources including GPs, nurses, community mental health teams, health and social care professionals, older people services, the community and voluntary sector, as well as self-referrals. To make a referral or to self-refer to a service contact your local social prescribing service directly for a list of social prescribing services and their contact details across the country.

 

Details are available at https://allirelandsocialprescribing.ie/members-map/

Additional information:

 

 

 

Christmas Holidays

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The office will close on Thursday 22nd December and will re-open on Tuesday the 3rd of January 2023.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Holiday and Best Wishes for 2023.