Libraries, Health and Wellbeing

Reading Well

It is even more important than ever to ensure that you take care of your mental health.

Reading Well gives practical information to help develop strategies to improve their overall health and wellbeing. The books are recommended by health professionals. Self-help books can be very effective when read on their own or when used with prescribed medication, counselling or therapy.

You can borrow the books via our Select and Collect service or from our eBook or eAudiobook collections.

There are 5 Reading Well schemes which Barnet libraries take part in:

Reading Well for children

A booklist to support children's mental health and wellbeing. Targeted at children in Key Stage 2 but with a range of reading levels. The books give advice about:

maintaining good mental health and wellbeing
managing feelings and worries
navigating the world around you, including school and online
dealing with bereavement and trauma
support for living well with conditions including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Shelf Help for young people's mental health

Shelf Help is aimed at young people and those supporting their mental health. Chosen by young people and health experts to help with difficult feelings and experiences. The list includes fiction, memoirs and graphic novels.

Reading Well for mental health

Support for common mental health conditions, including:

anxiety and depression
dealing with difficult feelings and experiences such as anger or bereavement.

Reading Well Books on Prescription for Dementia

Advice about dementia for all those affected by the condition including:

living well after diagnosis
advice for carers
ideas for shared therapeutic activities.

Reading Well for long term conditions

This collection focuses on living well with a range of common long-term health conditions, including:

diabetes
arthritis
breathing difficulties
heart disease
angina
irritable bowel syndrome
sleeping difficulties
pain management.

Books are available across Barnet Libraries or can be reserved for free from our catalogue or in a library.

Mood-boosting Books

Mood-boosting Books is a collection of feel-good novels, poetry and non-fiction. All the books are recommended by readers and reading groups.

Mental health and wellbeing support

Find more advice and the details of support services available to help keep well.

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