The University of Michigan Institute for Social Prescribing advances health and well-being by supporting research on non-clinical, community-based activities—like art, food, movement, and nature—and their impact on mental and physical health.

Facing increased rates of social isolation and loneliness at U-M and institutions nationwide, the Institute for Social Prescribing aims to transform campus well-being by developing, researching and scaling a comprehensive social prescribing program that encourages health and social care professionals to connect individuals to enriching community experiences, such as arts, nature, movement, service and shared meals, while serving as a resource and catalyst for research and advocacy for social prescribing, nationally and internationally.

At the University of Michigan, the Institute supports the Experience Rx network, including Arts Rx, Movement Rx, Nature Rx, Nourish Rx, and Service Rx.

We work with partners including the Arts Initiative, the Center for History, Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Ethics in Medicine, MHealthy, the Office of Vice-President for Research, University Health and Counseling, the Well-Being Collective, and Wolverine Wellness, among others. Nationally and internationally, we work alongside organizations such as the Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing and Social Prescribing USA.

The Institute for Social Prescribing is made possible by seed funding awarded by the Impact Institutes.