Should dating be available on prescription?
What if your doctor said, "You need a partner. I'm prescribing you a date." It sounds provocative. A little outrageous. But is it really? Being single is expensive. Very expensive. Not just for the individual. Not just for your wallet. But for society as a whole. This article is based on Olga Engvall's opinion piece published in Expressen: "It's Time to Start Prescribing Dating."
By Olga Engvall, Founder of MinglMe – About Olga
Being single – a lifestyle or a cost?
We often talk about freedom when we talk about single life. But less often about the cost of it. One person pays the entire rent, the entire electricity bill, the entire grocery shopping. Economically it's simple: it's more expensive to be one than two.
But it's not just about money, because research shows that involuntary loneliness affects both mental and physical health. It affects productivity. It affects security. It affects quality of life.
And in a time of economic uncertainty and growing mental illness, is involuntary single life really a private matter?
When we lost the meeting places
In the past, people met through friends, associations, and workplaces. Today, much happens on mobile phones. Sure, the apps made dating efficient. But efficient isn't the same as working well. That's why more and more people today are searching for something else and a more genuine experience asking questions like:
- how do I meet singles without apps?
- are there activities for singles in Stockholm
- what singles events Stockholm can I attend
- is mingles for singles something for me?
And it's not 'because everything was better in the past'. It's a longing for something that feels more real.
Dating as public health?
We already prescribe physical activity and talk therapy. Why don't we talk as openly about companionship? Companionship is security. Context. Social training. Faith in the future. So maybe 'dating on prescription' isn't literal. But perhaps it's a signal that companionship isn't a luxury.
About the Author
Olga Engvall is the founder of MinglMe – The Singles Social Club, a community where singles meet through real-life activities instead of dating apps. With a background in UX design, she founded MinglMe after experiencing firsthand how superficial and time-consuming app-based dating can be. Read more about Olga and the story behind MinglMe.
