Keywords: social prescribing; social health

Aim:

Social health, recognized as a key determinant of overall well-being, often receives less attention compared to physical and mental health. This study investigates the implementation of social prescribing as a strategy to enhance social health through community integration in Guimarães, Portugal.

Method:

The study evaluates various local programs, including Local Social Development Offices, the Social Network, and initiatives like Guimarães 65+ and Guimarães Welcomes, highlighting their contributions to community well-being as well as their limitations. Key recommendations include the development of a formalized social prescribing framework, comprehensive training for healthcare providers, detailed resource mapping, and the establishment of robust inter-agency communication mechanisms.

Results:

This research identifies significant gaps in the existing social support infrastructure and proposes a structured framework to address these challenges.

Conclusions:

Family doctors in Guimarães play a pivotal role in implementing social prescribing. They often serve as the first point of contact for patients in the healthcare system, allowing them to identify medical, social, and emotional needs. However, barriers such as lack of knowledge, infrastructure, and resources have hindered their engagement in social prescribing. By implementing these strategies, Guimarães has the potential to significantly improve social health outcomes, offering a replicable model for other cities. This research emphasizes the crucial role of social health in public health initiatives and advocates for its integration into broader health policies to ensure equitable community development.