It’s not surprising if you are. The last year and a half has been tough going for everyone and the consequential adverse affect on mental health is widely recognised.

Many library users have told us how much they appreciated the contribution Jesmond Library made to their wellbeing during lockdown. We are grateful to our ‘Click & Collect’ volunteers who made it possible for us to continue to lend books throughout the period. 

How books can help boost your mood

Reading can be a wonderful way to escape into another world. But books can prove useful in other more practical ways. 

We have recently added a selection of ‘Reading Well for Mental Health’ books to the Library catalogue. These books provide information and support to help manage common mental health conditions and deal with difficult feelings and experiences. 

What is ‘Reading Well’?

Reading Well books are delivered by The Reading Agency. The books are recommended by health experts and those who live with the conditions under discussion. 

The mental health collection

These include real-life stories such as Sathnam Sanghera’s critically acclaimed memoir ‘The Boy with the Top-knot’, self-help books such as ‘Overcoming Health Anxiety’, ‘Defeating Depression’ and ‘Coping with Grief’, as well as information on therapies and approaches such as Ruby Wax’s book ‘A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled’.

Other ‘Reading Well’ collections

There are currently five booklists in the Reading Well scheme:

  • Children
  • Mental Health
  • Young People’s Mental Health
  • Long-term Conditions
  • Dementia

We already have an excellent selection of books from their ‘Dementia’ collection.

We will shortly be adding books from the ‘Children’ and the ‘Young People’s Mental Health’ booklists – look out for these when they arrive.