The scheme builds on public libraries’ ever-increasing work around community health and wellbeing and 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. It 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 with topics including:

 Therapies and approaches

Common feelings and experiences

Self-help books to support mental health

Other common conditions

Personal stories

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 and as well as signposting to sources of professional help and support, it recommends other library wellbeing activities such as reading groups and volunteering opportunities.

The books are available to borrow from your local library. Selected titles are also available to borrow as e-books and audiobooks.