Social Prescribing
Reanimating Michigan’s "Dry Bones"
In our Afterthoughts episode on The “Social Death” Pandemic, we explored the haunting concept of “Social Death,” which is the reality of being biologically alive but socially invisible. I live in Michigan, so we looked at the “dry bones” of our Michigan suburbs and the “tombs” of isolation that 41% of our neighbors find themselves in.
But what if the “cure” for this pandemic doesn’t come in a pill bottle, but in a prescription for a community garden, an art class, or helping as a volunteer?
This isn’t a humanist fantasy; it’s a growing medical movement called Social Prescribing. Here in Michigan, innovative pilot programs are already working to “unbind” our neighbors from isolation.
The Rise of “ArtsRx” and “NatureRx” at U-M
The University of Michigan Arts Initiative recently launched ArtsRx, a pilot program specifically designed to combat the 60% loneliness rate reported by students. Instead of traditional clinical referrals alone, health providers at University Health & Counseling can now “prescribe” tailored arts experiences, from museum tours to theater performances, to students who screen positive for social isolation.
Similarly, the NatureRx program leverages the Ann Arbor campus’s 100+ “nature break” spots, encouraging students to reconnect with the physical world as a foundational pillar of mental health. The program even offers a NatureRx app that uses maps and location data to help users find relaxing outdoor locations around the UofM Ann Arbor campus.
Rural Reanimation: The Pharmacy Connection
In St. Clair County, a groundbreaking pharmacy-based pilot called ImproveHealth has shown that the “breath” of life often comes from the most accessible health professionals: our local pharmacists. This program trained pharmacists to screen older adults for social isolation and loneliness (SIL) and connect them directly to senior centers and programs like Meals on Wheels.
In one powerful case, a pharmacist identified a withdrawn patient and referred her to a senior center dining program. The result? The patient didn’t just eat better, she was “reanimated” by new friendships and a restored sense of belonging.
This is what can happen when we help reconnect those who are lonely with the people and the community all around them.
Community-Led “Social Prescriptions”
But let me be clear: You don’t need a medical degree to issue a social prescription. Across Michigan, community-led “conversation circles” and gathering spaces are acting as secular “unbinding” stations:
Petoskey: The Soul Song Circle offers a space for participants to foster connection through simple, shared songs… no experience required.
Muskegon: Peer-led spaces like The Love Café provide nonjudgmental conversation circles aimed at building community through honest, shared experience.
The Soul Song Circle is hosted at a local church but led by a local “healing arts community minister.” The Love Café is a nonprofit, pay-what-you-can restaurant with a job skills training program. It is also associated with a Christian organization, yet they claim to believe that all people deserve to dine with dignity.
Human Library events in Michigan, often hosted by public libraries and community centers, allow attendees to “borrow” Human Books (volunteers sharing their life experiences) for conversations to challenge prejudices and build understanding. The core goal is to break down stereotypes through personal conversation. Attendees can ask questions to these “Human Books” in a safe space, often covering subjects like mental health, religion, cultural differences, or even personal trauma.
Why This Matters for Us
Many humanists understand that “spirit” is the vitality we find through reason, empathy, and connection. To use some of the metaphors we found in Scripture, when we support social prescribing, we are doing the work of “unbinding” our community from the burial cloths of modern suburban isolation.
Whether it’s the U-M Institute for Social Prescribing researching statewide scaling or a local library hosting a “Human Library” event, the goal is the same: to ensure no one in Michigan is left as a “dry bone” in a valley of pavement.
Your Challenge This Week:
Identify one “Social Prescription” you can write for yourself or a neighbor. Is there a local park, a community art class, or a volunteer group you’ve been ignoring? Don’t wait for a miracle. Walk across the driveway. Be the breath of life for a neighbor trapped in the loneliness of isolation.