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Date updated: 1/05/2024

Reading Well

Helpful reading to support health and wellbeing

The books are selected and recommended by leading health bodies and people living with the conditions covered. Books can be borrowed by anyone.

In addition to print copies many of the Reading Well titles are available to borrow as eBooks and eAudiobooks on the app Libby.

Reading Well for mental health

Reading Well for mental health provides helpful information and support for managing common mental health conditions, or dealing with difficult feelings and experiences. Some books also include personal stories from people who are living with or caring for someone with mental health needs.

Reading Well for young people (Shelf Help)

Reading Well for young people recommends expert endorsed books about mental health, providing 12-18 year olds with advice and information about issues like anxiety, stress and OCD, and difficult experiences like bullying and exams.

Reading Well for children

Reading Well for children provides quality-assured information, stories and advice to support children’s mental health and wellbeing. It covers general information and advice about understanding and managing feelings, school and online pressures, bereavement, parental mental health needs, and living well with specific diagnosed conditions and physical disabilities.

The booklist is targeted at children in Key Stage Two (aged seven-11), but includes titles aimed at a wide range of reading levels to support less confident readers, and to encourage children to read together with their siblings and carers.

Reading Well for dementia

Reading Well for dementia provides information and advice for people living with dementia, support for living well, advice for relatives and carers, as well as fiction, memoir and photographic books used in reminiscence therapy.

The programme is delivered by The Reading Agency in partnership with Libraries Connected as part of the Libraries Connected Universal Health Offer. It is available in 99% of English public library authorities.