1. Reading Well for mental health
Introduction
Reading Well for mental health is a new public library scheme to support people living with mental health needs and carers using recommended self-help reading
It is launching in public libraries in June 2018
The scheme builds on public libraries’ ever-increasing work around community health and wellbeing
Part of the Reading Well Books on Prescription programme, a key part of the Public Library Universal Health Offer.

2. Reading Well for mental health
Developed by the Society of Chief Librarians and The Reading Agency with funding from the Arts Council and Wellcome
Endorsed by national health organisations
Delivered by local library services working with public health
Curated, quality assured self-help reading list
Using a referral/self-referral model
Universally available: Reading Well is in 98% of English public library authorities
Reading Well for mental health represents an important new strand of the public library health offer
It is responding to real need and delivering on local health priorities
Developed and delivered by national charity, The Reading Agency, working in partnership with the Society of Chief Librarians, local library services and local and national health partners
Funded at a national level by the Arts Council and the Wellcome Trust and locally by local library services working with health partners, mostly public health
Uses the tried and tested Reading Well Books on Prescription model of a curated list to recommend quality assured self-help reading to support people in understanding and managing their mental health and wellbeing
The core book list is accredited by health partners
Books can be “recommended or prescribed” by health professionals, but they are also available on the open shelves for self referral
Universal offer available in public libraries across England

3. The Need
Approximately one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year
Mental health problems represent the largest single cause of disability in the UK
26 percent of adults reported having been diagnosed with at least one mental health problem
By 2030, it is estimated that there will be approximately two million more adults in the UK with mental health problems than there were in 2013
The total cost of mental health problems in England in 2009/10 was £105.2 billion
People with severe and prolonged mental health needs are at risk of dying on average 15 to 20 years earlier than other people
There is enormous need for quality assured health information and advice supporting people to understand and manage their mental health and wellbeing.
Approximately one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year
Mental health problems represent the largest single cause of disability in the UK
26 percent of adults reported having been diagnosed with at least one mental health problem
By 2030, it is estimated that there will be approximately two million more adults in the UK with mental health problems than there were in 2013
The total cost of mental health problems in England in 2009/10 was £105.2 billion
People with severe and prolonged mental health needs are at risk of dying on average 15 to 20 years earlier than other people
Reading Well is a cost effective way of delivering community-based help and support for people living with mental health needs. The national cost average of the scheme works out at around £1 per person.

4. Can Reading Help?
There is a strong evidence base around reading for health and wellbeing:
readingagency.org.uk/readingwell/evidencebase
Builds the key determinants of health: literacy, learning, resilience and empathy
Delivers:
Health information and advice
Book-based therapy
Mood-boosting fiction and poetry
Social reading/reading groups
There is evidence that reading can help. The evidence base for reading as a health and wellbeing tool can be found on The Reading Agency website.
Research shows that reading builds the key determinants of health and wellbeing including literacy, learning, skills and empathy.
For people with mental health needs, reading can deliver:
Health information and advice which both encourages self-management and empowerment
The provision of high quality health information is embedded within NICE guidelines for developing both care plans and condition-specific guidelines
Self-help support for living with mental health needs
The opportunity to explore life experiences through the lens of fiction or memoir
The opportunity to engage in social reading communities such as reading groups and support groups

5. The following key assets underpin the public library health offer:
Infographic representing SCL’s Universal Health Offer
The Public Library Health Offer is a shared strategy to advocate the public library contribution to the health and wellbeing of their communities.
The following key assets underpin the public library health offer:
A network of trusted, neutral and non-stigmatised community spaces
Assisted digital access which in turn allows people wider access to health information and online services
Access to targeted communities and vulnerable groups
A workforce in tune with the needs of their local community
As well as an unrivalled service offer including:
Health information and signposting
National reading programmes
Social and recreational activities such as reading groups and volunteering opportunities that keep people of all ages socially engaged.

6. 2013 Common Mental Health Conditions List
The new booklist replaces our first mental health scheme
Launched in 2013
Common mental health conditions: anxiety, depression, sleep problems, some phobias
It was non-fiction, self-help, CBT based
The new scheme incorporates learning from our co-production process to widen the content of the booklist to include personal stories from people with lived experience
Reading Well Books on Prescription for adult common mental health conditions was the first national list for England, and was launched in 2013
It covered common mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, sleep problems and some phobias, and following clinical guidelines on where CBT self-help has been found to be useful
The titles on the first list were all non-fiction, self-help based titles
As a result of learning from previous lists, the involvement of people with lived experience has also become integral to the development process. The development approach for each new booklist now includes commissioning an expert partner organisation to deliver an integrated co-production strand of work. This involves people with lived experience, including family and carers, supporting the development of the structure and content of the booklist as well as the design and marketing approaches of supporting materials.

7. Reading Well for mental health framework
To support mental health and wellbeing, as well as friends and carers of people with mental health needs
Providing information and advice, support for specific conditions and common difficult experiences, and personal stories
Specific conditions covered include anxiety, depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
The new list also covers additional conditions including post-natal depression
Range of reading levels and formats
Signposting to professional support and other library wellbeing activities
Reading Well for mental health is focused on providing high quality health information to support adult mental health and wellbeing, as well as friends and carers of people with mental health needs
The scheme operates on both a self-referral and referral model, and supports a self-management model to encourage patients to take an active role in the decisions made around their health and wellbeing
The scheme provides general information on mental health and wellbeing, condition-specific titles, support for common difficult experiences including bereavement and loss, and personal stories
The list includes a range of different formats and reading levels to ensure it is accessible to a wide range of audiences
The scheme promotes empowerment of mental health and wellbeing, supports living well and self-care and self-management models
As a community intervention, it also allows for public services to work together to support the health and wellbeing of their communities
As well as signposting to sources of professional help and support, it recommends other library wellbeing activities such as reading groups and volunteering opportunities.

8. Quality Assured Process
Responding to need
Delivering public health policy priorities
Evidence based and working within clinical guidelines
Developed with expert support
Co-creation with people with lived experience
Recognised by the Royal Society for Public Health as a Public Mental Health and Wellbeing Award finalist
A robust and rigorous development process guarantees the delivery of quality assured evidence based community service provision for people living with mental health needs
Delivers on key health priorities identified through extensive prevalence mapping, cost to the NHS and the wider economy, and priorities of key leading health bodies
Delivers within clinical guidelines, within a clear and reliable evidence base
Developed with expert support
Co-created with people with lived experience
Recognised by the Royal Society for Public Health as a Public Mental Health and Wellbeing Award finalist

9. Co-production with people with lived experience
Co-produced with experts by experience in partnership with the Coalition for Collaborative Care
Feedback on format and approach, language/terminology and design of materials.
The development of Reading Well for mental health was supported by an extensive co-production programme by the Coalition for Collaborative Care
This included the development of a programme of workshops with people with lived experience of mental health needs
We have been working alongside the co-production group at the Coalition for Collaborative care on the range of conditions for inclusion, book selection, design, marketing and engagement and delivery strategies.

10. Reading Well National Evidence
Reach: 778,000 people
100% increase in loans of common mental health conditions titles
346% increase in loans of dementia titles
6,500 prescribers using the scheme regularly
263% increase in loans of young people’s mental health titles
Positive feedback on the scheme and the value of libraries’ health role
The evidence from existing Reading Well Books on Prescription schemes proves the model works.
Yearly evaluation demonstrates powerful evidence of reach and real value for users, the health sector and partners
In four years, the scheme has reached over half a million people with quality assured, health expert endorsed information
There has been a 100% increase in loans of titles on the common mental health conditions list, a 346% increase in the borrowing of dementia titles and a 263% increase in the young people’s titles
6,500 prescribers are using the scheme with positive feedback on its value for patients.

11. User Impact First mental health booklist (2013)
90% of users surveyed found books helpful
83% better understood their condition
68% said that symptoms had actually improved
Dementia
96% found the scheme helpful
73% said it increased their knowledge of sources of help and support
Young people
87% said it supported coping with pressures that could affect mental health and wellbeing
There has been overwhelmingly positive feedback from users about using the Reading Well scheme.
For example, for the 2013 adult mental health list:
90% of users surveyed found books helpful
83% better understood their condition
68% said that symptoms had actually improved
For the dementia list:
96% found the scheme helpful
73% said it increased their knowledge of sources of help and support
For the YP list:
87% said it supported coping with pressures that could affect mental health and wellbeing
Reading Well for long term conditions will be evaluated for the first time in Summer 2018, and the new Reading Well for mental health list will be evaluated for the first time in Summer 2019.

12. Partnership Model: Delivering Value for Money
80% of library authorities work with health partners
Funding for book collections, leaflets, events
Support for partnership building and prescriber support
Free digital resources and support for health professionals
There is already a strong partnership model in place supporting Reading Well
Around 80% of library services work with health partners - mostly public health, CCGs and primary care funders
Provides support for libraries with partnership building and building prescriber support
Includes funding partnerships for library book collections, purchase of leaflets and posters, and events
The core book collection costs under £350 and leaflets £7.25 for a pack of 100

13. The Final Word
‘We know that better information leads to better choices about health and better self care. Innovative programmes like this, that align the health system with community services like libraries, could really improve the health and wellbeing of the general public.’
James Kingsland, President of National Association of Primary Care
The final word from a GP and president of the National Association of Primary Care makes clear the value for health partners and the public of library health schemes such as Reading Well for mental health.

14. [Local contact details] www.reading-well.org.uk
Insert local contact details