Have you ever wondered if feeling lonely could be as harmful to your health as high blood pressure or high cholesterol? During times when many gather with family, friends, and colleagues, this question resonates even more for those who feel disconnected. Dr. Rosanne Freak-Poli, a senior research fellow at Monash Health, has spent over a decade exploring how our social interactions impact our health and wellbeing.
With a new $530,079 ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA), Dr. Freak-Poli is set to transform her research into actionable solutions. Her project, Enhancing Social Prescribing, aims to integrate social prescribing into Australia’s health and social systems, ensuring that community and connection are core components of care, not mere afterthoughts.
The Role of Social Prescribing
Social prescribing is a practice that assists clinicians in linking patients with non-medical community supports, such as walking groups, arts programs, and volunteering opportunities. The goal is to enhance wellbeing and quality of life by fostering social connections and a sense of purpose. Dr. Freak-Poli’s DECRA will focus on co-designing data and infrastructure to help services understand effective strategies, tailoring social prescribing to various settings and populations.
Understanding Loneliness Beyond Simple Solutions
It’s easy to assume that loneliness can be overcome by simply “getting out more.” However, Dr. Freak-Poli’s research reveals that the issue is far more complex, especially during festive periods when social expectations heighten the divide between the connected and the isolated. Her studies have shown that social isolation and low social support are linked to increased risks of chronic diseases, poorer quality of life, and mental health challenges.
“Social conditions like who you live with, your social network, income, education, and recent stressful events can be stronger predictors of heart disease than traditional biological risk factors.”
Advanced computer modeling on large datasets has demonstrated the need for health systems to consider these social determinants seriously. The findings suggest that systemic changes are necessary to make social connections possible and valued.
Building Tools for Social Connection
Dr. Freak-Poli emphasizes that while there are effective treatments for blood pressure and cholesterol, tools for fostering social connection are still in their infancy. Social prescribing, however, stands out as a promising approach, with a solid evidence base already established in the UK’s healthcare system. Australia now has the opportunity to shape its own social prescribing framework.
“To do that well, we need a minimum dataset co-designed with participants and policymakers, supported by robust data infrastructure.”
The Broader Perspective
Dr. Freak-Poli’s commitment to social justice and prevention spans her career as a life-course epidemiologist. Her work has influenced clinical guidelines and policy, from workplace physical activity to the impact of social isolation on health. Her research has been recognized by major organizations, including the World Health Organization and the United Nations, highlighting the importance of social factors in health outcomes.
The ASPIRE Social Prescribing initiative is a national collaborative effort to advance evidence-based social prescribing across Australia. By bringing together researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and community organizations, ASPIRE aims to create a coordinated, scalable, and culturally responsive social prescribing ecosystem.
Looking Forward
As Australia embarks on this journey, the integration of social prescribing into healthcare represents a significant shift towards recognizing the importance of social connections in health. Dr. Freak-Poli’s work serves as a vital foundation for this transformation, offering a roadmap for how social prescribing can be effectively designed and implemented.
In conclusion, the move towards embedding social prescribing within Australia’s healthcare system is not just about addressing loneliness; it’s about reshaping how we understand and support health and wellbeing. As these efforts continue, the potential for improved health outcomes and quality of life becomes increasingly tangible.
