The other side of social dance for mental health: What needs to be addressed before it can be offered to vulnerable populations?

A growing body of research suggests that social dance can be good for mental health, especially for individuals with depression, anxiety, and loneliness. However, less work has been conducted investigating for whom and in what circumstances social dance is beneficial, what safety considerations should be in place, and who might not yet be included in social dance spaces. In light of ongoing research investigating whether salsa dancing should be offered as an option to patients seeking care for depression and anxiety through the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) Talking Therapies as a social prescribing initiative and on a larger scale, and given the growing interest in social dance as a mental health solution more broadly, this Perspective piece highlights key issues that need to be addressed in community-based social dance spaces before social dance can be offered safely and equitably for vulnerable populations through public healthcare prescribing channels.