Everyone Needs a Zoe

 How Social Prescribing Transformed My Life 

This case study was shared nationally with the ‘National Association of Social Prescribing’ as part of a promotional campaign.  

Approaching 50, Anna felt invisible. As her four teenage boys in Southport became increasingly independent, she struggled with a growing sense of purposelessness. "I just started feeling a little bit lost," Anna explains. "My kids are all grown up and I’d gone from feeling really needed and busy, to having lots of time on my hands and I knew I wasn’t feeling right. I just couldn’t put my finger on what was wrong with me." 

The tipping point came after losing her uncle, who she was really close with. Anna really struggled with her grief. She says “I knew it wasn't depression, but I was all over the place. I was flailing and I just didn’t know where to go." Out of desperation Anna plucked up the courage to visit her local doctor’s surgery to see if they could help.  

Rather than prescribing medication, Anna's practice nurse suggested social prescribing, which Anna hadn’t heard of before. Social prescribing is when a GP surgery refers patients to a Social Prescribing Link Worker, who has time to explore the social factors affecting a person’s health – which could include loneliness, isolation and problems with debt and housing – and connect them to support in their community. 

Anna was assigned Zoe as her local Social Prescribing Link Worker. This decision proved transformative. "I hadn't felt heard for so long," Anna remembers. "She listened. And she was like, okay, yeah, I see you. I get what's going on here." 

Zoe provided what Anna desperately needed: "she didn’t judge. She wasn’t in a rush, she didn’t interrupt... and it was just time to talk about me." This revelation was profound for someone who admits: "When you’re a mum with four kids, you just stop thinking about yourself. You're talking about the boys a lot, but what about you?" 

Zoe's ability to listen and understand Anna’s problems led Zoe to initially encourage Anna to get out of the house more. She suggested they meet up each week in parks and cafes, and that Anna should cycle to the meetings as a gentle way to start exercising again.  

Zoe then referred Anna to a local women’s centre who were able to provide some free talking therapy sessions. The timing proved crucial when Anna's elderly friend died during the process. "If I hadn't had talking therapy at that point... I don't know where I'd have been." 

Finally, Zoe referred Anna to Think Differently Cope Differently, which is a community based free four-week course at her local healthy living centre ran by Brighter Living Partnership (the organisation who host our Social Prescribing team). The course looks at positive mental tools and techniques and holistic options for managing stress and anxiety. Anna enjoyed attending so much she began volunteering there and still helps out once a week, having made some really good friends.  

“It’s given me a new sense of purpose. I knew I still had something to offer, other than being a mum," she says with newfound confidence.  

Reflecting on her experience, Anna's message is clear: "If you get the right link worker with social prescribing, I think they'll work wonders." Her assessment of Zoe remains equally powerful: "I remember filling out a form for Zoe... and I'm pretty sure I put on it, everyone needs a Zoe, because that's how I felt at the time." 

For others feeling similarly lost, Anna's advice is simple: "I don't think you should sit around and be lost... I did need the nudge. And I’m so glad I did."