The Social Prescribing Service is part of a new suite of programmes being offered under the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme in Tallaght and Clondalkin. Social prescribing is a free service that supports people to connect with their community to improve their health and wellbeing.
Social prescribing can help people to:
- Learn to support their mental health and wellbeing
- Build confidence and resilience
- Meet new people and become more social
- Try something new
- Get back to enjoyable social connections, routines or activities
Social Prescribing is a formal way of enabling healthcare services to support self-management by referring people to a variety of local, non-clinical projects and activities in the community through a social prescribing link worker.
Who is this project for?
This project is for people over 18 years of age, living in Tallaght and Clondalkin who may need additional health and wellbeing support. Social prescribing can be particularly beneficial to people who feel lonely, socially isolated, anxious, depressed or in need of social supports. People can be referred to social prescribing through their GP, allied health clinicians, community worker or by contacting the social prescriber themselves.
What are the results?
An evaluation of the social prescribing service in South Dublin County Partnership published in 2020 identified improved self-reported wellbeing of participants, as well as an increased community involvement and knowledge of local services (South Dublin County Partnership, 2020). Similarly, recent research has found that engagement with social prescribing can improve mental and physical health, as well as reducing social isolation and loneliness (Chatterjee et al., 2018). Social prescribing has also been associated with decreased attendance at GP services and A&E (Polley & Pilkington, 2017).
How can I find out more about the project?
For more information, please contact the Social Prescribing Link Worker in your area:
