Help yourself - books on prescription
Press Release Details
- Ref
- 3515
- Date
- Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:25:01
The council's library service and Croydon Primary Care NHS Trust have linked up to prescribe Croydon Books on Prescription to help improve mental health.
Under the scheme, to be launched on Wednesday 22 October, GPs treating patients with mild to moderate mental health issues such as anxiety, obsessive behaviour, eating disorders or panic attacks will be able to prescribe a self help book if it they feel it will help address the problem.
Patients will be encouraged to work through the exercises and suggestions in the prescribed books but will still be closely monitored by the relevant health care professionals.
The specially-selected books will be available to borrow from the Healthy Living section of any of the borough's 13 libraries. Non-library members will be able to present their prescription as proof of ID to join.
Councillor Margaret Mead, cabinet member for health and adult social care, said: "There is much evidence to show that books can be as effective as many other forms of therapy - and with the added advantage of no side effects.
"The Books on Prescription scheme is an established and popular way of helping many people cope with common mental health problems and is to be valued for the additional and alternative approach it offers."
