Press & Media
While exploration of social prescribing is increasingly common in peer-reviewed academic journals, it is also starting to appear more frequently in popular press. Explore articles below from Forbes, The New York Times, Self, and others.
Overview
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2025
CNN Health - May 12, 2025
You Can’t Find This Prescription in a Pharmacy, But it Might be Just the Treatment You Need
Interview ith SP USA Board Member and accomplished writer Julia Hotz on social prescribing and steps Americans can take to explore social prescribing as it becomes increasingly part of mainstream healthcare.
Medscape - March 25, 2025
Lonely Planet: How the World is Fighting Social Isolation
Presentation of the prevalence and health implications of loneliness and isolation and comparison of global and national approaches to addressing it.
Connecticut Public Radio - March 5, 2025
Take a Pottery Class and Call Me in the Morning
Radio feature on the launch of Art Pharmacy, a Social Prescribing USA partner, in the state of Connecticut.
San Diego Museum Council - March 13, 2025
Social Prescribing Day: Celebrating the Healing Power of Arts, Culture, and Nature
In anticipation of Social Prescribing Day on March 19th, the San Diego Museum Council introduces blog readers to social prescribing, previews the upcoming California For the Arts Summit, and highlights several San Diego-area resources for finding healing in arts and nature.
Mass Cultural Council - February 24, 2025
New Data Highlights Economic Benefits of Social Prescribing
Presentation of data on the efficacy and economic impact of social prescribing from two sources: preliminary results from arts prescription programs in Massachusetts, and a Canadian Institute of Social Prescribing report.
Observer - February 8, 2025
Museums as Medicine: The Growing Trend of Art Prescriptions
Analysis of arts prescribing programs in the United States, their partnerships with health plans, and potential cost savings of social prescribing.
NPR Morning Edition - January 28, 2025
Patients are getting prescriptions to socialize to fight an epidemic of loneliness
NPR’s Morning Edition is joined by Open Source Wellness co-founder Benjamin Emmert-Aronson and Dr. Jill Sonke for a segment on social prescribing and the Community as Medicine™ model.
Macleans - January 20, 2025
The Case for Social Prescribing
The Scientific Director of the Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing - a member of Social Prescribing USA's Board of Advisors - makes a compelling case, both in terms of evidence and economics, for the incorporation of social prescribing into healthcare.
CBS Sunday Morning - March 30, 2025
How the Arts Can Create Healthier Communities
Feature on the role of the arts in individual and public health, presentation of the Arts for Every Body initiative, and introduction to social prescribing (and SP USA).
Psychology Today - February 2, 2025
Social Prescribing: The Secret to Thriving in Midlife
Introduction to social prescribing, including an overview, history, and reference to Social Prescribing USA! Discusses the potential for social prescribing to enhance resilience and ease lonelines in midlife.
Greater Good Magazine (UC Berkeley) - January 15, 2025
Can social activity be a form of medicine?
A physician presents a case for including ‘what matters to you’ into patient interactions and an interview with The Connection Cure author Julia Hotz.
BBC - January 1, 2025
Eight ways to stay happier this year, according to science
An overview of habits for better mental and physical health, including friendship and volunteering, and inclusion of the role of social prescribing in promoting volunteering for health.
2024
BBC - January 1, 2025
Eight ways to stay happier this year, according to science
An overview of habits for better mental and physical health, including friendship and volunteering, and inclusion of the role of social prescribing in promoting volunteering for health.
Harvard Public Health - December 13, 2024
The best public health books of 2024
Two books by Social Prescribing USA allies - The Art and Science of Connection by Kasley Killam and The Connection Cure by Julia Hotz - were featured on the editors’ list from Harvard Public Health.
Public Library Association - December 12, 2024
How social prescribing can empower libraries to boost public health
Analysis of the role of public libraries in facilitating social prescribing and reference to the work of Social Prescribing USA!
Governing - December 3, 2024
A Rural City Embraces Art as a Prescription for Community Health
Profile of Rhinelander, Wisconsin and its participation in national health initiative One Nation/One Project, which is designed to connect community members with art for public health benefit.
UCSF Magazine - Winter 2024
Profile of the Curry Senior Center in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district and its efforts to alleviate loneliness in senior citizens
Scientific American - August 28, 2024
Doctors should offer ‘social prescribing’ to patients
Overview of social prescribing, presentation of supporting evidence, and outline of next steps in scaling social prescribing nationally.
Slate Magazine - May 26, 2024
You’re Not Sick, Your Environment Is
Article on the role of social prescriptions in helping to address the underlying causes and social determinants of illness.
Self - May 3, 2024
Why a little trip to a museum or concert can be so good for your mental health
Introduction to social prescribing for a mainstream audience and practical tips for engaging with arts+health initiatives.
Northwestern Now - May 1, 2024
‘Hey Doc, my planet hurts. Can you write me a prescription?’
Analysis of the mutual benefit of engagement with nature for environmental and individual health and the physician’s role as a facilitator of such connection.
Science - April 25, 2024
Striving to connect: Can science find ways to ease loneliness?
Presentation of Spanish RECETAS study and other global interventions (often sponsored by the World Health Organization) to ease loneliness.
Forbes - March 15, 2024
Can global population aging spark new partnership models?
Analysis of the role of social prescribing in mitigating loneliness in aging populations, with quotes from SP USA Executive Director Alan Siegel.
SXSW - March 11, 2024
Social Prescribing: Bridging the Gap between Art, Wellbeing
Audio recording of SXSW panel on Social Prescribing, featuring Chris Appleton of Art Pharmacy and Dr. Tasha Golden of the International Arts & Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University.
New York Times - April 17, 2024
When the prescription is for a dance class, not a pill
Exploration of the growth of social prescribing within the US, as well as discussion of possible barriers to implementation.
2022-2023
AMA Journal of Ethics - November 2023
What are ‘social prescriptions’ and how should they be integrated into care plans?
Case presentation, commentary, and proposal of a four-step method for preparing clinical practices to incorporate social prescribing.
TIME Magazine - June 15, 2022
Why some doctors are prescribing ballroom dance or a day at the museum
Case stories of social prescribing, including one from Cleveland Clinic’s Dr. Ardeshir Hashmi.