We are the UofT chapter for the Canadian Social Prescribing Student Collective (CSPSC), a group that represents students’ interests in social prescribing across Canada. With the launch of the Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing (CISP) and the Canadian Social Prescribing Student Collective (CSPSC), we invite all passionate UofT students, from all fields, to join us as we start our social prescribing movement.

What is Social Prescribing? 

Social Prescribing is a means of enabling health care providers to connect patients with non-medical supports and services to address their non-medical needs and improve their overall health and wellbeing. 80-90% of health and wellbeing is determined by the social determinants of health. As a result, a large portion of primary care visits are for non-medical issues. Moreover, the pandemic has come with rising concerns of the negative health impacts of social isolation. Social prescribing has demonstrated an effective holistic approach to migrating the individual and interpersonal effects of loneliness and social isolation.

What is CISP and CSPSC?

In 2019, the Alliance for Healthier Communities launched a pilot of social prescription in Ontario. It’s finding are promising, demonstrating a 12.1% increase in self-reported mental health of participants, a 48.5% decrease in loneliness, and a 15.9% increase in sense of belonging (read full report here). With the launch of the Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing (CISP) and the Canadian Social Prescribing Student Collective (CSPSC), we aim to build the social prescribing movement across Canada.