The dean of the NOVA National School of Public Health (NOVA NSPH), Sónia Dias, presented the results of the implementation of the Social Prescription pilot project developed in the USFs of Baixa and Almirante in Lisbon, an innovative project that has been transforming the way health and well-being are promoted in the community. The session was attended by experts, health professionals and representatives of partner organisations, who analysed the results of this strategy and discussed the next steps for its expansion.
Social Prescribing is an innovative approach to creating links between people, healthcare and support resources in the community to improve their health, well-being and quality of life. Social Prescribing arises from a real need on the part of health professionals when they are confronted with social, emotional and practical challenges faced by users that have an impact on their health and well-being, and exclusively clinical approaches are not enough to respond in a preventive and health-promoting way.
‘We have very clear evidence that Social Prescribing is significantly improving participants’ quality of life, especially among more vulnerable groups, such as elderly people in isolation or people with mental health challenges,’ emphasised Sónia Dias during the presentation.
The data presented shows that participants in the Social Prescription in Lisbon report significant improvements in various indicators of well-being. Among the main results was a reduction in social isolation, with several participants reporting that joining community groups and collective activities brought a new sense of belonging and purpose to their lives. Improvements in mental health were also pointed out by the participants, who reported a reduction in symptoms such as anxiety and depression. On the other hand, the programme also contributed to promoting healthier lifestyles by encouraging physical exercise.
‘These results reinforce the need to expand this model to other territories and regions of the country. Social Prescription is not just an alternative, but a necessary response for a more sustainable health system centred on people’s real needs,’ said Sónia Dias.
Despite the positive results, there are still challenges to overcome to consolidate and expand Social Prescribing in Portugal. One of the main obstacles identified is the need to strengthen coordination between health units and community networks, ensuring that recommendations made in health centres are effectively implemented and followed up.
In addition, the issue of funding remains a barrier, and a political commitment is essential to ensure the continuity and expansion of the programme. ‘We need sustainable funding models that allow this approach to become a structural part of our health system, and to stop being just a pilot project,’ emphasised the director of NOVA NSPH.
The National School of Public Health has played a central role in the development and evaluation of Social Prescribing in Portugal, contributing to the production of scientific knowledge and the training of professionals to implement this approach. In the second part of the event, Ana Gama, a researcher at NOVA NSPH, presented the new course on Social Prescription that is being prepared by the team and will begin in March, in response to the needs felt in the field by institutions and professionals.
‘At NOVA NSPH, we believe that innovation in public health involves creating integrated solutions that put people at the centre of the system. Social Prescribing is an excellent example of how collaborative work between academic institutions, health professionals and civil society organisations can have a real impact on people’s lives,’ concluded Sónia Dias.
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