What these doctors were beginning to grapple with was the link between social and emotional health that often shows up in the physical health of medical patients. If neglected, loneliness can have long-term health implications, yet it is not a state that can be fixed with a pill or a procedure. It is a human condition that reminds us of our need for the love, compassion, and companionship of fellow human beings. Helen’s approach to helping Enid followed a practice known as social prescribing. Clinicians recommend—or “prescribe”—resources and activities in the community that can help patients
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