From isolation to empowerment: How social prescribing transforms lives

It started with a phone call. A 32-year-old mother's voice cracked as she spoke, exhausted and overwhelmed. She reached out after being referred to our social prescribing service, having reached her breaking point. She had fled an abusive relationship and was now faced with the crushing weight of single parenthood, mounting debt, and caring for her four-year-old autistic son. Winter was closing in, and she couldn't afford both food and heating.

During our first meeting, she couldn't meet my eyes. Her shoulders hunched forward as if she was carrying an invisible burden, tears flowing freely as she described debt collectors' relentless harassment and her growing isolation. As a Social Prescriber, I've learned that moments like these require more than just empathy – they demand action. They demand recognition that human needs form a hierarchy, and without a foundation, no amount of higher-level support can truly take root.

The truth about social prescribing is both simple and revolutionary: we bridge the gap between clinical services and community support, treating not just symptoms but whole lives. This mother's case highlighted a harsh reality I've encountered repeatedly: traditional mental health support, while valuable, can't fill an empty fridge or keep the heating on. You can't effectively counsel someone who's wondering where their next meal will come from. We must start with the fundamentals. When basic needs aren't met, people struggle to see themselves as valuable – and without that sense of worth, envisioning change feels impossible. 

It's funny – in all my years of training, nobody ever mentioned that my job would involve becoming an expert in local food banks, a winter coat sourcing specialist, and occasionally, a professional form-filling ninja. But these seemingly mundane skills have become my secret weapons in helping people rebuild their lives.

Building a vision for the future

Working alongside this mum, we became something of a dynamic duo, tackling challenges one by one. The women's centre became her sanctuary – imagine a place where understanding nods replace judgment, where 'me too' replaces 'you should have…' and where sharing a cup of tea can feel like sharing hope itself. Through some creative juggling with her son's school SENCO team – and believe me, it took some juggling! – we increased his support hours. This gave her something precious: time. Time to breathe, time to think, time to remember who she was beyond all her responsibilities. Each success builds upon the last, creating a foundation of stability.

My background in Psychology with Counselling and Psychotherapy taught me about evidence-based interventions, therapeutic techniques and the importance of empathy. This approach isn't just about problem-solving, it's about envisioning a different future. Appreciative Inquiry teaches us that true change comes when people are empowered to see what is possible and build upon their strengths. For this mother, it meant seeing herself as more than just a struggling single parent, but as someone capable of growth, stability, and even happiness. By focusing on what was working – her resilience, her love for her son, her willingness to reach out for help – we built a vision for the future she could believe in.

At the same time, Self-Determination Theory reminds us that people change most effectively when they feel autonomous and intrinsically motivated. No one can impose change upon another – it must come from within. The real magic of social prescribing is not just handing out resources, but enabling people to take control of their own journey. By addressing basic needs first, we create the conditions where intrinsic motivation can thrive, where people can start setting their own goals and reclaiming their sense of agency.

Transformative spaces

Social prescribing began as a way to connect people with community support to improve health and wellbeing. Too often, people facing mental health struggles and financial hardships find themselves isolated. Community centres are the heartbeat of social prescribing, providing spaces where friendships can grow and serve as a reminder that people are not alone. Yet such centres face relentless funding cuts, threatening the very spaces where lives are transformed. But I have seen firsthand the difference such work makes. Alongside health and wellbeing coaches, I've helped set up wellness walks turning strangers into friends, restoring laughter and improving both physical and mental health. These moments prove that investing in community spaces isn't a luxury, it's a necessity. We must push back against cuts and demand proper funding to keep these vital services alive because true wellbeing is built on connection.

The statistics tell part of the story: 60 per cent of patients using social prescribing services report improved mental health, and GP consultations decrease by up to 28 per cent. But these numbers don't capture the transformative power of meeting basic needs first. They don't show the relief in a mother's eyes when she knows her child won't go to bed hungry or the straightening of shoulders when someone feels secure in their home again.

This story isn't over, and perhaps that's the most hopeful part. Every day, we're learning more about how to support people effectively, starting with their most fundamental needs and building upward. We're seeing a shift in understanding – a recognition that mental health care isn't just about what happens in a therapist's office, but about creating the conditions where healing becomes possible.

Small, everyday victories

To those shaping mental health policy: we need a fundamental shift in our approach. While counselling and clinical interventions are crucial, they must be part of a broader support system that addresses the full spectrum of human needs. We must invest in community services, housing support, and food security programs. We must recognise that mental health care begins with meeting basic human needs.

The revolution in mental health care isn't happening in grand conference rooms or glossy policy documents (though we need those too!). It's happening in community centres where people find their tribe, in kitchens where families finally have enough food to cook a proper meal, and in living rooms where the heating can stay on without fear. It's happening in all the small, everyday victories that add up to transformed lives. 

Social prescribing represents more than just a new healthcare model. It's a recognition that human wellbeing cannot be compartmentalised. Every day, I witness the power of this approach to transform lives. But we need systemic change to make these transformations possible for everyone.

When someone is struggling with homelessness or basic necessities, many mental health services deem them 'not suitable' for therapy or counselling, citing that they're not in the right state of mind. But this is precisely when people need support the most – not just clinical support, but holistic support that addresses their entire hierarchy of needs.

This is where hope lives – in the practical, step-by-step work of meeting people where they are and helping them build upward. Every meal provided, every safe space created, every community connection formed is a building block toward a better future. When we honour the full spectrum of human needs, we don't just treat symptoms, we create the conditions for true healing and growth. Change may be slow, but it is happening, one person, one need, one step at a time. And that's a change worth fighting for.