Poole council have initiated a scheme to provide a range of free books for young people who suffer with mental health conditions.
The Reading Agency, in partnership with the Society of Chief Librarians and Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians, has launched a reading list for young people.
Councillor Mohan Iyengar, Portfolio Holder for Libraries and Culture, Borough of Poole, embraces the project, “this is such a helpful scheme for teenagers looking for general support and guidance for common mental health conditions. They can find additional help in a safe and comfortable environment on their own terms and in their own time.”
Reading Well ‘Shelf Help’ for young people is part of the Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme for adults that is already running in libraries nationally. This new part of the scheme aims to address more issues specific to young people, using books that they might find more accessible.
The Poole Communications Team is hoping to attract as many young people as possible, “we can’t predict how many people would take advantage of this service, but with 1 in 10 young people having a diagnosable mental health issue, we would hope that the books will be of help to a great many of them.”
However, the scheme should be available to all young people, according to Cassie Jordan, a mother of two from Poole, “I think it’s a very good idea. It will support many young people. Although, I think, all young people should have the same access to free books. This might be a preventative measure.”
To have access to the books, a library membership is needed, which is free of charge.
