Promoting mental wellbeing in Warwickshire
Leamington Library will be hosting a range of activities for World Mental Health Day, being organised by the partners in the new Books on Prescription service.
Books on Prescription (BOP) is a collection of quality self-help books for people with common mental health problems, and the Project Coordinator will be available to talk to GPs and health professionals who can ‘prescribe’ the books, and spread the word to the general public.
There are currently 24 different BOP titles available in libraries covering a range of mental health topics, from anger and eating disorders to sleep problems and stress.
The IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapy) Service will also be running a FLASH (Facilitated Learning and Self Help) Clinic for people with commonly experienced mental health issues, such as stress, low mood and anxiety.
Any member of the public is welcome to drop in to meet with IAPT staff to learn about their condition and to help manage it for themselves.
Between 10.30am and 11.00am there will be Rhyme Time session for under fives and their parents and carers. The session is on a ‘You and Me’ theme with rhymes and books on relationships and children’s well being.
There will also be displays of ‘moodbusting’ books and a display from the Family Information Service. Healthy fruits and juices will be available throughout the event.
“When it comes to a person’s wellbeing, mental and physical health are equally important,” said Warwickshire BOP Project Officer Alison McKellar.
“As well as hosting events like “Read yourself well! Learn yourself well!”, libraries provide many services for mental wellbeing, including general reading, talking books, CDs, DVDs and website links to the Naxos classical music service with over 223,270 free tracks for chilling out, meditation and relaxation. For more information go to http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/libraries”.
BOP is the result of partnership working between Warwickshire County Council, the NHS in Warwickshire, Warwickshire’s voluntary and community sector, and the IAPT Service, part of Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust. The scheme is funded by Warwickshire County Council, via a Mental Health Capital Grant.
More information about the Books on Prescription scheme is available online at: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/booksonprescription.