Reading Well: Books on Prescription developed by The Reading Agency aims to bring reading’s healing benefits to the 6 million people with anxiety, depression and other mild to moderate mental health illnesses.

There is growing evidence showing that self-help reading can help people with certain mental health conditions get better. Reading Well: Books on Prescription will enable GPs and mental health professionals to prescribe patients cognitive behavioural therapy through a visit to the library. Here they can get books to help them understand and manage conditions from depression to chronic pain. The scheme works within NICE guidelines, and uses 30 books endorsed by health partners as having evidenced CBT benefits.

The scheme has the backing of the Royal Colleges of GPs, Nursing and Psychiatrists, the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies and of the Department of Health through its Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Programme.

For more information contact your local library.

User and Prescriber leaflets are available in the related downloads section.

“My doctor prescribed me a book on helping me overcome my OCD. It has really helped alongside my therapy and medication.”

Reading Well : Books on Prescription for Dementia

Building on the success of the above list for common mental health conditions, a new dementia list has been developed by The Reading Agency with health and library professionals for people with dementia and their carers. Contact your local library for details.

Self help books for Families

This scheme helps parents, children and teenagers manage well-being with self-help reading. The scheme is endorsed by local health professionals (Salford Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services – CAMHS) and Salford Community Libraries. the books on the list provide information and step-by-step techniques for managing common conditions. Contact your local library for details.

Useful downloads: