PEOPLE with mental health issues including anxiety, depression and relationship problems will have greater access to self help material through the Books on Prescription initiative being launched in Orange today.
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Following years of research and planning, the project will see 41 library branches across the Central West and western NSW provide medically-approved books to help people manage their mental health.
Central West Libraries manager Jan Richards came up with the concept after seeing a similar project at libraries in the UK and submitted a grant application for the project.
“It’s not just a first for this library, it’s a first in Australia,” Ms Richards said.
Involving a partnership between Central West Libraries and the University of Newcastle’s Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health at Bloomfield, she said the project had been approved by health professionals and adapted to meet the needs of people in Australia.
“All the books have been assessed as a good book,” Ms Richards said.
A team of people assessed 250 books using a criteria for the project, resulting in the selection of 21 books based on behavioural cognitive therapy for issues including anxiety, binge-eating, depression, obsessions and compulsions, panic, phobias, relationship problems, self-esteem, sleep problems, social phobia, stress and worry.
“It’s about people, when they have mental health issues, to have self-help reading to support their wellbeing, it is a move away from Dr Google,” Ms Richards said.
“The idea is that you go to the doctor and you might be prescribed an activity and medication and a book as well.”
Books on Prescription will be launched by beyondblue volunteer speaker Hayley Nicholls at the library at 10.30am.
tanya.marschke@fairfaxmedia.com.au
