Festive greetings from chilly Ottawa, Canada.
Social prescribing (SP) has emerged as a transformative approach, aiming to address non-clinical determinants of health by linking persons to community resources and activities. This approach acknowledges that social factors, such as loneliness, social isolation, and lack of community engagement, significantly impact physical and mental health.
Much of the SP research has been with the isolated elderly and SP research with children & youth is in its infancy. Morse et al. published the first paper on global developments in social prescribing in BMJ Global Health in 2022 and the SP global movement is growing fast. The UK have incorporated social prescribing into their national health system (NHS) with positive impact on individuals mental and physical health and on the health systems as well as on the mental health of SP providers. We recently developed, implemented and evaluated the first Social Prescribing program for children & youth in Canada with a manuscript in the works but meanwhile see our (attached) Commentary. I am presently prescribing the arts at our capital city's national art centre with youth attending our hospital's mental health clinic with early positive impact on their mental health and wellbeing.
With much appreciation to you all for the work of ISSOP and CHIFA: for all you do to promote the ultimate potential of the child and for the realization & their enjoyment of all their human rights.
Warm wishes to you all in the coming year and beyond
Sue Bennett
CHIFA profile: Dr. Sue Bennett MB.ChB, FRCPC, DTM&H, DRCOG, Dip. Psych.
Director Social Pediatrics, CHEO
Professor Pediatrics, University of Ottawa
CHEO | 401 chemin Smyth Road Ottawa (ON) K1H 8L1
bennett'AT'cheo.on.ca<mailto:bennett@cheo.on.ca>
<https://www.instagram.com/cheohospital/?hl=en>
www.cheo.on.ca<http://www.cheo.on.ca/>
CHEO is located in Ottawa, Ontario, on the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg People