Doctors in Cumbria can now prescribe books to improve mental well-being thanks to a partnership between Cumbria County Council's libraries and the NHS.
Well Read is the county's first ever Books on Prescription scheme. A specially selected collection of books, audio CDs and DVDs on mental health issues are available for people to borrow from the county's 6 largest libraries - Barrow, Carlisle, Kendal, Penrith, Whitehaven and Workington.
Some people may be referred to borrow specific titles from the collection by their GP or a mental health worker, or by other health professionals and Adult Social care staff.
Others may 'self prescribe' on seeing the titles in the library and finding them to be of relevance to their own situation.
The county council's Library Service is working with the primary care mental health team on this project and the collection has been put together using titles recommended by the team.
The collections are housed in the libraries within dedicated shelving units and have a distinct 'branding' - which includes signs for the shelving units as well as Well Read posters and leaflets to promote the collections within the wider community.
Graduate mental health workers attached to the primary care mental health team are also staffing weekly Well Read helpdesk sessions in some of the six largest libraries - at present these drop in sessions are being held as follows:
Carlisle Library Wednesday 9.30 -11.30am
Penrith Library Thursday 9.30 -1.30am
Whitehaven Library Thursday 1.00 -3.00pm
Workington Library Wednesday 10.00 -12.00am
Details can be found on the Library Service website: www.cumbria.gov.uk/libraries/well_read.asp
A full list of all titles in the collection is also available on the libraries' website. There is no charge if anyone wishes to request any of the Well Read titles, and there are no loan charges for anyone borrowing the DVDs or audio CDs from the collections.
County councillor Roger Bingham, cabinet member responsible for the county's Library Service, said: "This is a scheme for everybody as nearly all us at some time in our lives experience feeling stressed or low.
"It is open to everyone in Cumbria and aims to encourage people to help themselves to manage their mental health.
Councillor Oliver Pearson, cabinet member for Adult Social Care and Health in Cumbria, said: "Strengthening support for people in the areas of emotional wellbeing and mental health is a high priority for the county council. Through the Well Read scheme, people can find out more about how best to cope with feeling down or stressed."
"A lot is known about the many different ways in which people can help themselves to understand their own mental health. The books included in Well Read have been written to pass on this information."
The new scheme is part of a wider approach to mental health known as bibliotherapy.
In addition to the Well Read scheme, Cumbria's libraries have been running a bibliotherapy reading group at Penrith library since September 2006. Anyone wanting further information about this group should contact Deb Holden at Penrith Library 01768-242104 or Helen Towers on 01228-607287.
ENDS
Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-606337
Notes
Bibliotherapy is "the use of books and other reading materials in order to help people to overcome emotional and psychological problems." (MacMillan English dictionary definition). Bibliotherapy is defined by The Mental Health Foundation as "the systematic use of poetry and other forms of literature to assist recovery and promote personal growth".
The November 2002 edition of the MacMillan English dictionary webzine says of bibliotherapy: "Emotional repair through books is not a new idea and can be traced right back to the days of the first libraries in Greece. The term bibliotherapy dates as far back as 1919 (Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary) and has been widely used in America since the 1970s."
Titles in the Cumbria Libraries' Well Read collection
Depression
Overcoming Depression Workbook - C. Williams Overcoming Depression - P. Gilbert Mind Over Mood Workbook - C. Padesky & D. Greenberger
Anxiety
Overcoming Anxiety - H. Kennerley
Overcoming Panic - D. Silove & V. Manicavasagar Overcoming Social Anxiety and Shyness - G. Butler Overcoming Anxiety Workbook - C. Williams
Self-Esteem & Confidence
Overcoming Low Self-Esteem - M. Fennell
Overcoming Low Self-Esteem: A Self Help Programme - M. Fennell Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - D. Veale & R.Wilson.
Anger
Overcoming Anger and Irritability - W. Davies
Trauma
Overcoming Childhood Trauma - H. Kennerley Overcoming Traumatic Stress - C. Herbert & A. Whetmore Get Out Of Your Mind & Into Your Life; The New Acceptance & Commitment Therapy - S. Smith & S.K Hayes Breaking Free: Help for Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse. - C. Ainscough & K Tool
Self-Harm
Cutting: Understanding and Overcoming Self Mutilation - S. Levenkron
Eating Problems
Overcoming Anorexia Nervosa - C. Freeman Overcoming Bulimia Nervosa and Binge - Eating - P.J. Cooper
Pain and Fatigue
Overcoming Chronic Fatigue - M Burgess
Overcoming Chronic Pain - F. Cole, H. Macdonald, C. Carus, H. Howden-Leach
Relationships
Loving Yourself, Loving Another: The importance of self esteem for successful relationships - Julia Cole and Relate Women Who Love Too Much - R. Norwood
Videos, DVD's and Audio CD's.
SOCIAL PHOBIA DVD
OBSESSIVE/COMPULSIVE DISORDER DVD
VOMIT DVD
AGORAPHOBIA AND PANIC DVD
Guided Mindfulness Meditation (Box Set) - John Kabat-Zinn - Audio CD