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Reading Well

Reading Well helps you to understand and manage your health and wellbeing using helpful reading.

The books are all chosen and recommended by health experts, as well as people living with the conditions covered and their relatives and carers. You can be recommended a title by a health professional, or you can visit your local library and take a book out yourself.

There are five book lists available:

Many of the Reading Well titles are available to borrow as e-books and audiobooks. Visit your local library website to find out how to join the library and access books electronically

Partners

Reading Well is delivered by The Reading Agency in partnership with Libraries Connected and Arts Council England.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport has funded a universal roll-out of the reading lists to support mental health to every library service across England.

Welsh Government have funded every library authority in Wales to deliver the scheme bilingually in Welsh and English.

The programme is supported by a wide range of professional health bodies including NHS England and The Royal College of GPs. Visit the Reading Well website to see all of our supporting health partners.

Reading Well Mood-boosting Books

Reading Well Mood-boosting Books is a national promotion of uplifting titles, including novels, poetry, and non-fiction. The books are all recommended by readers and reading groups.

Evidence and evaluation

There is a huge evidence base around the value of reading to support health and wellbeing, as well as the value of libraries as a non-stigmatised space that is both welcoming and empowering for people with mental health problems.

Reading Well is evaluated each year to ensure that it delivers positive outcomes. over 3 million Reading Well books have been borrowed from libraries and 91% of people surveyed found their book helpful.

You can find out more about evaluation here.