Reading_Well_Books_on_Prescription
Reading Well Books on Prescription
British well-being scheme
Reading Well Books on Prescription is a scheme in England to encourage people to manage their health and well-being by reading self-help books. The scheme was launched in 2013 by the charity The Reading Agency and the Society of Chief Librarians with funding from Arts Council England.[1] The scheme initially provided reading lists for common mental health conditions (including anger, anxiety, depression, phobias, and self-harm), but extended this offer to include reading lists for mood-busting books, dementia, young people, and long term conditions.[2]
The books on the lists are endorsed by health experts, and can be recommended by GPs or other health professionals, or borrowed without referral from public libraries in England.[2] The scheme was based on a similar scheme in Wales, which was set up by Professor Neil Frude in 2003 (the Welsh assembly made it available nationally in 2005). Neil Frude said "The doctors are already there, the books are already there and so are the libraries. It just needed joining them up."[3]
The scheme is supported by evidence which suggests reading can improve health and wellbeing and its effectiveness is evaluated annually.[4]
Results show that in its first year the scheme reached 275,000 people, and libraries saw a 113% increase in loans of the titles on the list.[5]