Social Prescribing Without Borders: Insights from Canada and the UK
Health and wellbeing are shaped by more than just medical care: our social connections, environment, and daily activities play a crucial role. Social prescribing bridges the gap between clinical and community care, offering a formal way for health and social care providers to connect people with non-medical supports that enhance overall wellness. Whether it’s joining an art or dance class, participating in a community garden, or engaging in peer support networks, social prescribing helps individuals build meaningful connections, develop new skills, and improve their quality of life.
But effective social prescribing goes beyond making referrals: it also requires removing barriers that prevent people from accessing these supports. How can we ensure equitable access to social prescriptions? What role do health and community organizations play in this process? What are the local and global determinants of successful, impactful, and, indeed, meaningful social prescribing? Join our expert panel as we explore the impact, challenges, and opportunities of social prescribing in transforming health and social care.
This set of panel discussions brings together link workers, practitioners, policymakers, and researchers from Canada (particularly Scarborough, Ontario) and the UK (Lincoln)—two regions where social prescribing is taking shape in unique ways. By exploring approaches from geographically distinct healthcare systems and community settings, this conversation will offer valuable insights into the global potential of social prescribing and the lessons we can learn from one another.
Speakers include:
Dr. Nicole D’souza is a health systems researcher and community-engaged scholar with expertise in youth mental health and social prescribing. She has over a decade of experience in child and youth mental health, working at the intersection of research, policy, and practice. Her current work focuses on integrating social prescribing into healthcare and education systems to support youth well-being and improve service access. She collaborates closely with government, non-profits, and community organizations across the public health, mental health, and social sectors.