The Online Community can be a part of your social prescription. Read this blog to help build your own social support plan.
Did you know that some medical professionals will prescribe social interaction to support your mental health and overall wellbeing?
NHS England says that:
“Social prescribing is a key component of Universal Personalised Care. It is an approach that connects people to activities, groups, and services in their community to meet the practical, social, and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing.”
Read more on the NHS information pages about how social prescribing schemes work.
The Online Community can help meet your practical, social, and emotional needs and this blog will share details of how we can help. We can connect you with others who share similar experiences to help you feel less alone. We can connect you with cancer information experts who can offer practical, emotional and financial help.
Our forums are spaces for you to talk about how you are coping. The site can be accessed 24/7, so you can chat with those who are also up at night if you need to. You don’t have to be alone with your thoughts and feelings at any stage of your cancer journey.
There are often lots of discussions about how cancer impacts your emotions in our cancer forums. Here are some recent discussions:
If you need some specialist support, you can chat with the Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Advisers in the Ask an Expert section.
Whilst being affected by cancer brings you to the forum, you may share other things in common like hobbies, interests, and passions. We have forums that help take the topic of conversation away from cancer if this is what you are looking for:
On the site, you will see different social activities you can get involved with like our seasonal picture festivals, quizzes, and monthly catch-up chats in the forums.
There’s still a chance for you to join in our Spring spotting activity by sharing your spring-like images in our Express Yourself forum. If you don’t have any pictures to share, come take a look at the ones that have already been posted.
Why not go back and join in our ‘Wellbeing this or that quiz’ and our ‘Spreading love, hearts, and hugs with the Online Community Cupid's Quiz’.
Lots of people share their practical tips with others from tools they have used to support their physical and mental wellbeing to knowing how to support someone the best they can.
If you need some specialist support, you can chat with the Macmillan Information Nurses, Work Support Advisers and the Financial Guides in the Ask an Expert section.
For other social support, why not consider the following options:
