We look at how one successful program in the UK is using reading to boost people’s health and wellbeing.
Mental ill-health is a major issue in Australia, estimated to affect one in two adults during their lives – or over 7 millions Australians. So what role can reading play in boosting health and wellbeing?
Debbie Hicks, Creative Director at the Reading Agency, tells us more about their effective Reading Well program in the UK.
What is the Reading Well program?
Reading Well underpins The Reading Agency’s mission to use the proven power of reading to boost wellbeing and improve people’s health across the UK. Reading Well schemes include Reading Well for dementia, Reading for mental health, Reading Well for teens and Reading Well for children. Each Reading Well list includes a range of different books from health information and book based therapy to personal stories along with supporting digital resources.
Reading Well is an evidence-based, quality-assured programme. The focus is on providing helpful reading to support people to understand and manage their health and wellbeing. Reading lists provide early-intervention/prevention support and are not a replacement for clinical treatment.
Reading Well is developed by The Reading Agency and is delivered in partnership with public libraries in England and Wales supported by leading health partners. The Reading Agency works with the Books Council of Wales to make titles on the lists available in Welsh language supported by bilingual user leaflets and Welsh specific signposting.
How does it work?
Reading Well books are recommended by health experts and people with lived experience of the conditions and topics covered. The books are available to borrow for free from public libraries across England and Wales. People can access the books via the open shelves of the public library or they can be referred by a relevant professional.
The Reading Agency has developed a robust and bespoke methodology for developing Reading Well booklists. Extensive research and consultation work informs the book selection framework which outlines key findings and provides recommendations for the scope of each individual Reading Well list. The Reading Agency also works with a co-production partner on each Reading Well list to ensure people with lived experience sit at the heart of the development process.
Reading Well is supported by over 40 partners from across the health and voluntary sectors. Partnership working is in place with NHS England, the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Royal College of Nursing and the British Psychological Society and others.
Why is it effective?
Reading Well is built on an extensive evidence base developed over ten years of delivery. This includes annual evaluation often by an external partner as well as independent impact studies including one by the University of Exeter on the adult mental health list and a Welcome funded study of the first young people’s list.
Evidence shows clearly that Reading Well empowers individuals to better understand and manage their health and wellbeing. Since 2013, over 3.8 million Reading Well books have been borrowed from public libraries with 92% of people saying they found their book helpful. 90% of health professionals have also said that the books helped to provide valuable support for their patients and carers outside of consultation time.[1]
The Reading Agency has recently delivered a publisher insights programme sharing evidence from the book selection and co-production processes aiming to better inform the commissioning and publication of authentic and inclusive health content.
What are the challenges?
There are unique challenges that present during the Reading Well development process, particularly in relation to balancing feedback from the co-production group with the wider book selection and stakeholder panels. The Reading Agency uses its expertise in co-production to manage expectations in the co-production groups, and members from the co-production group also attend the book selection panel meetings to share their views.
The co-production process ensures that the voices of people with lived experience are heard throughout the development process, and the real success of Reading Well is that it truly is a co-produced scheme that is trusted by people with lived experience and health professionals alike.
There are also challenges in ensuring that each list is curated to provide a balanced and inclusive overview of the area of health focus. There can often be publishing gaps in the priority areas identified.
Reading Well has an established profile and brand but maintaining this profile within a fast-moving health sector can be difficult.
Find out more via the Reading Agency’s website or watch an interview with Debbie Hicks as part of Australia Reads’ VOLUME symposium.
References:
[1] The Reading Agency (2022). Reading Well in 2022: evaluation infographic. Retrieved 4 April 2024 from https://tra-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/entries/document/6637/RW_Infographic_MAIN_2020-2022.pdf