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There was a time when the medical strategy of social prescribing was seen as a folksy gimmick, in which a doctor would fill out a drug prescription form with a written order to get outside, maybe do a bit of gardening, or invite a friend for tea.

It made sense. These activities are associated with improved health, and for some, pursuing them can ease their troubles while also relieving pressure on over-burdened family doctors.

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Now, the gimmick has gone mainstream. The British health system, where the strategy originated, recently adopted it as a key government policy, and the past year has seen a steep rise in social prescribing in Canada as well.

This is the practice of medically prescribing non-medical treatments to improve social determinants of health, such as loneliness, despair, and poverty. Common examples of recommendations include those for exercise, social interaction, walking, gardening, cooking in groups, or taking up artistic hobbies such as painting or knitting.