People in England with mild to moderate mental health concerns, including panic attacks, anxiety and depression, are to be prescribed self-help books which they can borrow from their local library.
The Feeling Good Handbook, How to Stop Worrying and Overcoming Anger and Irritability will be among the 30 prescription titles that libraries across England will stock to improve the well-being of the island nation. The scheme, announced on January 31, has been developed over the past year by the Reading Agency charity.
Its chief executive Miranda McKearney said, “There is growing evidence that shows that self-help reading can help people with certain mental health conditions to get better.” She added that six million people in the UK suffered from anxiety and depression, and about two thirds of them were not receiving any treatment.