A NEW scheme which uses reading to help the six million people in England who suffer from conditions such as depression and anxiety, is now available to access in libraries across Wiltshire.
Reading Well Books on Prescription will enable GPs and other health professionals to recommend 30 self-help titles for people to borrow from the local library. The service, which launched nationally on 4th June, is now being put into place in public libraries across England.
It is a joint initiative from independent charity The Reading Agency and the Society of Chief Librarians, working with local library services and LIFT psychology teams. It offers people self-help books from the library as part of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) prescribed by a health professional. The scheme works within National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines which recommend the approach for a range of common mental health disorders.
Wiltshire Council in partnership with Swindon Borough Council will both have multiple copies of the core list of 30 titles covering issues such as anxiety, depression, phobias, panic attacks, bulimia and sleep problems. The titles will be available to borrow free of charge from local library branches or online through the request service.
Jonathon Seed, cabinet member for libraries said, “This scheme will allow anyone in Wiltshire, in need of such support, to access self-help books locally and for free. Our libraries are friendly, community focused places, so I am delighted we are able to participate and help support the health and well-being of many local people.”
Janene Cox, Society of Chief Librarians, and Debbie Hicks, The Reading Agency, said, “We’re excited to be working together to launch new services in libraries to help people suffering from mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. This is a step change in partnerships between libraries and local health partners to improve our communities’ health and well-being. Evidence tells us that many people see the local library as a trusted place to go for health information. A library visit can be the first step on the road to recovery.”
