Halton and St Helens Mental Health Directory

Many people, perhaps even the majority, develop emotional or psychological problems at some time during their life. 1 in 4 people will have a mental health problem in the course of a year.

Many people consult their GP for help with emotional difficulties. GPs might refer the person to a counsellor or to mental health services where psychologists or psychiatrists can provide treatment. The availability of these specialist resources is limited. Often, the GP will offer advice, prescribe medication to relieve such symptoms as anxiety or depression, or recommend contact with a local voluntary agency.

What is meant by books on prescription?

Your GP will give you a prescription form for a recommended book that can help you develop skills to aid the self-management of emotional difficulties. You can get this book from your local library for free

Many self-help books have been shown to be very useful in helping people to overcome a range of psychological problems. The use of books as a means of providing psychological therapy is known as ‘bibliotherapy’.

The scheme includes books on many of the common psychological problems that people experience, including depression, eating disorders, obsessional-compulsive problems, compulsive gambling, social phobia, panic, anger, stress, low self-esteem and the aftermath of sexual abuse. Some people may wish to buy the book, others to borrow from their local library. Many are normally in stock in leading bookstores or accessed via your local library, or purchased over the internet.

GPs and other professionals (such as psychologists and counsellors) have a list of the self-help books recommended by specialists and they may issue an

appropriate ‘Book Prescription’ to patients in their care. The prescription specifies the length of time for which the book can be borrowed. This will normally be between 4 and 8 weeks, and therefore exceeds the standard time for a library loan. You can extend the borrowing time, if necessary.

Many of the most effective books are self-help versions of the kind of therapy that would be given by a psychologist or counsellor. In many cases they present complete step-by-step treatment programmes with exercises, self-assessments, diary sheets, etc. to be completed by the reader.

No, you don’t have to be an existing member of the library. If you are not a member then you will be asked to join when you take your book prescription into the library.

Libraries in St Helens have one or more copies of the book you have been prescribed. If all copies are on loan to other readers, then the branch will obtain a copy for you from another branch. The library staff member will inform you about this.

Once you have your prescription, you can take it to the library or get someone else to take it for you. The library staff are professionals and will treat you with respect. This means that they will not divulge any information about who is borrowing a book or what the book is about. Think of the library staff as you would think of your local pharmacist—as someone who can deliver what is prescribed with professional expertise and ethical practice.

Your local library also has self help material on audio cassette and on Compact disc.

We know that the books on the list often prove useful, but may not be effective for everyone. If you have really tried hard to use the book, but you find that your difficulty or distress persists, then you will need to return to your GP (or the professional who prescribed the book), so that further advice can be obtained.

"The beauty of this book is its practical step by- step approach."

"After reading this book, I felt a new sense of well-being."

"This book has really helped me to learn how to change those thoughts and become a more positive person."