The 'Read Yourself Well' project is a joint scheme run by North Lincolnshire Council, the Primary Care Trust (PCT), and Poeisis. It has also been part of the Healthy Living Project in Barton.
It began in 2005, whereby doctors and mental health workers would 'prescribe' a book to people who consulted them about a common mental health problem. These health problems included anxiety, eating disorders and depression.
Since the project began, the emphasis on 'prescription' has lessened. We still hold collections of all 'core' texts at several North Lincolnshire libraries, as well as additional stock in support of mental health problems on our general shelves.
You will need a library ticket to borrow books. We can give you a ticket if you don't already have one. This is quite simple as any person aged 16 or over may join straight away without proof of ID. Readers can obtain a full ticket when they bring in ID showing their address (on their next visit to the library, if required). They can also use their ticket to access a range of other services such as all lending books, CDs and use of IT in the library.
Research has already shown that projects like this have many advantages over other treatments. Benefits include:
- No side effects
- Ease of use
- Quicker results than some drugs
- A greater sense of self-control for patients.
The PCT run 'Read Yourself Well' drop-in sessions at North Lincolnshire Central Library most Tuesdays (9.30am to 4.30pm). Mental health workers will be available to answer questions and provide self help books, materials and IT. You can expect a confidential and supportive environment.
The PCT also run online clinics, which provide a convenient and secure environment for many people.
Titles in the 'Read Yourself Well' collections and further reading are listed in the attachment below.
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Note: The above document is in Portable Document Format (PDF). You will need a suitable reader to view it. A reader can be downloaded free from the Adobe website (full instructions for downloading the reader are provided on the site).
For further details about the scheme, please contact Janet Stopper on 01724 860161 or email library.enquiries@northlincs.gov.uk.
For more information about the Primary Care Trust visit the North Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust website.