Toolkit for the October Health Spike 2013
Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2
Reading Well scheme ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Advocacy ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
MPs and library advocacy ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Advocacy sheet ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8
Template press release for local use ............................................................................................................................................................................. 10
Making the most of the health spike ............................................................................................................................................................................ 12
Feedback .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
1
Introduction
Universal Reading Offer
The Universal Reading Offer (URO) is a 2012–15 strategy combining libraries’ efforts to develop reading. It is one of the Society of Chief Librarians’ four
national offers and has been developed in partnership with The Reading Agency. It builds on growth and the public demand for a lively and engaging
reading offer including reading groups, challenges and author events, whilst focusing on libraries doing fewer, bigger things together, delivering economies
of scale and sharing best practice.
Almost all library authorities have signed up to deliver the URO and to combine the national reading programmes and partnerships prioritised by the
Society of Chief Librarians with local and regional work. The strategy also includes five prioritised calendar spikes across the year when there will be a
shared library push on reading. These focus on World Book Day/World Book Night in March and April, learning in May, Bookstart in June, the Summer
Reading Challenge, and health in October. The main health-related events in October are World Mental Health Day on Thursday 10 October and National
Stress Awareness Day on Wednesday 6 November.
World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day will take place on Thursday 10 October to raise public awareness about mental health issues. The theme of the day in 2013 is
‘Mental health and older adults’. This toolkit focuses on ideas and resources to help with delivering the health spike in October. We suggest the following
key actions:

Use World Mental Health Day as a platform for promoting public library health and well-being activity

Focus on promoting the new Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme to partners and the public

Use linked national programmes such as Reading Well Mood-boosting Books and Reading Groups for Everyone

Use the advocacy resources in this toolkit to help build local partnerships

Use the template press release in this toolkit to promote library health activity locally

Support your local MP library advocacy campaign

Feed back on this toolkit and tell us about national partnerships you would find useful to support World Mental
Health Day 2014
2
Reading Well scheme
Reading Well Books on Prescription
Reading Well Books on Prescription is the new national scheme for England delivered by The Reading Agency in partnership with the Society of Chief
Librarians, local library services and health partners. It provides self-help reading for adults based on cognitive behavioural therapy for a range of common
mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, phobias and some eating disorders.
Resources
There is a variety of Reading Well Books on Prescription resources on the Reading Well resources page. Here you can find
materials to help libraries and health professionals run the scheme. We have also developed guides for users, such as a guide
to the core books and advice on how to make the most of self-help reading.
Top tips for World Mental Health Day

Create Reading Well Books on Prescription displays in libraries

Organise a health partner briefing event and include agencies working with older people

Run stress-awareness workshops for older people with a local health partner

Support Reading Well Books on Prescription with Reading Well Mood-boosting Books displays and
reading group activities
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Reading Well Mood-boosting Books
Reading Well Mood-boosting Books, the other strand of the Reading Well scheme, is a national promotion of uplifting novels, non-fiction and poetry,
recommended by readers.
Mood-boosting Books are not prescribed by medical practitioners and the list is not endorsed by the Department of Health, although the evidence base for
the health value of creative reading is growing.
2013 Reading Well Mood-boosting Books list
Readers and reading groups around the country recommended 20 new Mood-boosting Books for 2013 including Miss Garnet's Angel by
Salley Vickers and The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ by Sue Townsend. You can read the guide to the 2013 Mood-boosting
Books.
You can order promotional materials for £11 per pack (containing 100 A5 leaflets featuring the generic list, 10 A4 posters and 5 A3
headers) from The Reading Agency shop.
2013 Reading Well Mood-boosting Books – Macmillan list
The Reading Agency has worked with Macmillan Cancer Support to involve people who have been diagnosed with cancer in
recommending books. Most of the books on the list of 20 titles are not specifically about cancer but have been recommended as books
that people found mood-boosting during or after treatment.
You can order promotional materials for £11 per pack (containing 100 A5 leaflets featuring the generic list, 10 A4 posters and 5 A3
headers) from The Reading Agency shop.
If you would like a list of books about cancer, you can download the Macmillan Cancer Support list for libraries.
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2012 Mood-boosting Books list
In 2012 readers and reading groups selected a main list of 27 Mood-boosting Books and there were also lists of titles recommended by young people and
older people.
Top tips for World Mental Health Day

Create Mood-boosting Books displays, featuring the main list and the Macmillan list

Call for Mood-boosting Books recommendations from library users and reading groups – people can
tweet their suggestions using #moodboosting or email them to moodboosting@readingagency.org.uk

Organise local author events around Mood-boosting Books
5
Advocacy
This section includes tools and resources to support local advocacy of the public library health offer, including Reading Well Books on Prescription. It
includes information about a local MP advocacy campaign with Arts Council England and an advocacy sheet about the public library universal health offer to
brief library staff and health partners, such as directors of public health, new local authority public health staff, and the new Health and Well-being Boards.
You can include your own local and regional data, as well as case studies to support the national evidence provided. There is also a template for local press
releases.
The following resources can be used to promote the health spike:

The Public Library Health and Well-being Advocacy Toolkit

Reading Well Books on Prescription information for clinical commissioning groups

Reading Well Books on Prescription GP letter

Reading Well Books on Prescription commissioning guidelines

Reading Well Books on Prescription evidence base

Reading Well case studies
NHS Choices video
We are working with NHS Choices to produce a short video about the Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme. This will be available to libraries in
October 2013 to use for advocacy purposes. Further information about the launch date and how to download the video will be posted on The
Reading Agency website in September 2013.
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MPs and library advocacy
The Reading Agency and the Society of Chief Librarians are working with Arts Council England to link the URO calendar spikes to a campaign of MP library
advocacy. World Mental Health Day has been agreed as the focus for MP library visits to see public library health and well-being activity in action in
authorities, where this is appropriate.
Relevant library activity for MP health and well-being themed library visits might include:

Reading Well Books on Prescription launches, events and promotional activity

Creative aspects of the scheme, including Mood-boosting Books events, workshops, author events, displays and reading groups

Visits to libraries to meet library staff and health professionals supporting Reading Well Books on Prescription

Other World Mental Health Day or health-related activity
MPs are most likely to be in their local constituency from the afternoon of 10 October and over the following weekend (11–13 October). You may
want to bear this in mind when thinking about an MP invitation.
Next steps
If you are planning events for World Mental Health Day, or health-themed activity for October relevant to an MP visit, and would like to take part in this
advocacy campaign, please contact elizabeth.elford@virginmedia.com with the name of your constituency(ies) and local MP(s).
We can help by sending a Reading Agency/SCL invitation to your local MP, which can be followed up locally with a personalised invitation.
The Reading Agency and SCL will be producing a pack including a template press release, support resources and an MP invitation pro forma to help with
planning. This will be made available mid-September on The Reading Agency website. Arts Council Public Affairs will be providing national advocacy.
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Public Library Universal Health Offer
Public libraries play an important role in the health and well-being of local communities through
services and resources that support the new public health responsibilities of local authorities. They
deliver early intervention, preventative care, address local health inequalities and can help new
Health and Well-being Boards deliver better public health outcomes as part of the commissioning
landscape.
Libraries provide:
 A network of local hubs with non-stigmatised, non-clinical community space where people
can meet others and stay connected, physically and virtually
 Community outreach supporting vulnerable people
 Staff with local knowledge and expertise in information management, reading and
community engagement
 Assisted online access
Evidence

The public library is a trusted place to go to for health and well-being support

Public library staff are second only to doctors in terms of the trust placed in them

37% of adults have used the library in the last 12 months
Public Library Activity in the Areas of Health and Well Being, MLA, 2012; http://www.goscl.com/survey-revealslibrarians-second-only-to-doctors-in-publics-trust/; Taking Part Statistical Release, 2012–13
They enable local communities to help themselves through:
 Health and care information services
 Referral and signposting
 Public health promotion activity
 National reading programmes promoting learning, literacy and well-being
 Social and recreational opportunities, e.g. reading groups
 Volunteering and community engagement activities that build people-centred services and
keep people active, involved and learning
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Public Library Health Advocacy
There are huge pressures on traditional health services caused by an ageing population and
increasingly common long-term conditions.
There are stark health inequalities in our communities, with people in the poorest areas dying 7
years earlier and experiencing higher rates of mental illness, disability and harm from alcohol, drugs
and smoking.
1 in 4 people suffer crippling mental health problems at some point in their lives: 6 million people
suffer from anxiety and depression, 4.5 million of whom are not currently receiving treatment.
1 in 5 older people in the community, 2 in 5 in care homes, suffer depression. By 2021, 2.2 million
people over 65 will be housebound or socially isolated.
Libraries’ work with reading improves health and well-being
 Public libraries are key community access points for the health benefits of reading.
 Reading Well Books on Prescription is an effective library tool for delivering self-help
psychological therapy, helping people to understand and manage common mental health
conditions.
 There are approximately 1,636 prescribing practice partnerships supporting libraries to
deliver Reading Well Books on Prescription in England. The majority of these are GPs.
 Research shows that reading novels and poetry can boost mood and reduce stress levels by
up to 68%.
 Social activities based on reading (reading groups and author events) promote well-being,
combat isolation and help bring people together.
 There are approximately 10,000 library-based reading groups in England.
(Reading Well Books on Prescription evidence base)
Value for older people
 Levels of dementia are predicted to rise by 61% by 2026. Evidence suggests that reading can
reduce the risk of dementia by 35%.
 Bibliotherapy increases the self-management ability, mental agility and health literacy of
older people.
 Engagement with cultural activity increases older people’s (50+) happiness.
(Leisure Activities and the Risk of Dementia in the Elderly, New England Journal of Medicine, 2003, 348:2508–
2516, The Effectiveness of Bibliotherapy in increasing the Self-Management Ability of Slightly to Moderately Frail
Older People, Patient Education and Counselling, 61, 2006, Taking Part Statistical Release, 2011–12)
Volunteering
 Volunteering in the cultural sector can significantly increase life satisfaction levels.
(Taking Part Statistical Analysis, 2011–12)
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Template press release for local use
On World Mental Health Day, [INSERT LOCAL AUTHORITY] Libraries
Showcase How They Can Help
As part of a nationwide awareness raising drive, [LOCAL AUTHORITY] libraries are using
World Mental Health Day to highlight how they can help local residents deal with mental
health issues.
[INSERT LIBRARY/LIBRARY AUTHORITY NAME] will be offering a number of activities and
resources including:
[DESCRIBE ACTIVITIES, AND LOCATION/TIMES]
[INSERT LIBRARY/LIBRARY AUTHORITY NAME] can help people find vital health information.
They now offer Reading Well Books on Prescription, a new national scheme across England’s
libraries led by the Society of Chief Librarians and The Reading Agency. This initiative
provides self-help reading for adults based on cognitive behavioural therapy for a range of
common mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, phobias and some eating
disorders.
Reading Well also helps people discover other library well-being services, including moodboosting novels and poetry, and social-reading activities, such as reading groups.
Norman Lamb, Minister of State for Care and Support, says: “Around six million people each
year have depression or anxiety. This figure is increasing year on year and we need to make
sure that the help and support is there for them in their time of need. Programmes in
libraries such as Books on Prescription can help someone to self-manage their own
condition or provide them with the information they need to seek more help. I am glad to
see that such books will be publicly and readily accessible on library shelves, encouraging
dialogue and underlining what I have always believed – that mental health is everyone’s
business.”
[INSERT QUOTE FROM LOCAL AUTHORITY/ELECTED MEMBER]
Notes for editors

Running alongside Reading Well Books on Prescription is a separate Reading Well
Mood-boosting Books promotion from The Reading Agency with 20 uplifting titles
recommended by readers – a mixture of novels, poetry and non-fiction. There will
also be a campaign to encourage people to try the mood-lifting social benefits of
joining a reading group through www.readinggroups.org. These complementary
initiatives build on the emerging evidence base, which shows that creative and
social reading can help you feel better.
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


Reading Well Books on Prescription is delivered by The Reading Agency in
partnership with the Society of Chief Librarians, with funding from Arts Council
England.
The Reading Agency is an independent charity with a mission to give everyone an
equal chance in life by helping people become confident and enthusiastic readers.
It runs big programmes and partnerships across the whole library network. It is
funded by the Arts Council. www.readingagency.org.uk
The Society of Chief Librarians (SCL) is a local government association made up of
the chief librarian of each library authority in England, Wales and Northern
Ireland. SCL takes a leading role in the development of public libraries, through
sharing best practices, advocating for continuous improvement on behalf of local
people, and leading the debate on the future of the public library service.
www.goscl.com
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Making the most of the health spike
On the following pages, there is a table with ideas about how you might be able to emphasise the health spike in your work with prioritised URO programmes.
You can use this to help promote reading and well-being in October and beyond.
Calendar Hook:
Health
Six Book
Challenge
Reading Well Mood- Reading Well
boosting Books
Books on
Prescription
Summer Reading
Challenge/
Chatterbooks
Reading
Groups
for Everyone
Library
Publisher
Partnerships
Reading
Activists
World Mental
Health Day
10 October
World Mental
Health Day raises
public awareness
about mental
health issues
→ Work with NHS
Trusts and other
mental health
professionals to
introduce SBC to
their clients
→ Create Moodboosting Books displays,
featuring the main list
and the Macmillan list
→ Call for children’s
mood-boosting
recommendations.
Email
moodboosting@read
ing.agency.org.uk, or
tweet using
#moodboosting
→ Resources,
tips, case
studies/stories
around reading
and health
featured on
Reading Groups
for Everyone
→ Run health and wellbeing author events at
library venues
→ Digital
activity, e.g.
make a Moodboosting Book
Vine or take a
photograph that
shows how a
particular book
makes you feel
→ Organise fun
sessions on stressbusting reading
→ Advice on
setting up and
running reading
groups
AND
National Stress
Awareness Day
6 November
This is the 15th
National Stress
Awareness Day,
which is held to
celebrate helping
people to beat
stress
→ Invite former
SBC participants
to identify their
Mood-boosting
Books
→ Call for Moodboosting Books
recommendations from
library users and reading
groups. People to email
moodboosting@reading.
agency.org.uk or tweet
using #moodboosting
→ Get local MPs and
councillors
recommending books,
using #moodboosting
→ Local author events
around Mood-boosting
Books
→ Arrange creative
writing workshops with
arts partners
→ Create a
Reading Well
Books on
Prescription
display, with
books and
materials
→ Invite local
health partners
to come for an
open day on
World Mental
Health Day, so
people can ask
them questions
→ Arrange a reading
walk, spotting
inspiring content for
writing poems
→ Organise
author events
→ Children’s book
week (7–11 October)
following World
Mental Health Day
→ Collect
Reading Well
Books on
Prescription
user feedback
forms
→ Chatterbooks
Activity Pack with
reading group
activities for funny
books/books to make
you laugh/smile
→ Set up book surgeries
to recommend moodboosting reading
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→ Consider linking up
with local health and
well-being partners in
promoting and
delivering activity
→ For 2014, a health
and well-being panel
event featuring
authors whose work
has a health and wellbeing theme
→Promotion of
Mood-boosting
Books reading
list through
Reading Activists
networks,
particularly on
and around
World Mental
Health Day, and
on and around
National Stress
Awareness Day
→ Call for young
people’s Moodboosting
recommendatio
ns via social
media
Feedback
We would really like to hear your feedback on the toolkit, and how you have used it. Please complete this short online form by 29 November 2013.
You can also email readingwell@readingagency.org.uk with details of what you have done. We would love to be able to publish examples of libraries’ work
around health and reading on The Reading Agency website.
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