What is Loneliness Awareness Week?​ Loneliness Awareness Week is a week dedicated to raising awareness of loneliness. Its all about creating supportive communities by having conversations with family, friends or colleagues about loneliness. Loneliness is a natural human emotion – we are hardwired to need social connections. By talking about it, we can support ourselves and others. Loneliness Awareness Week was launched in 2017 by the Marmalade Trust and it grows in momentum each year across the UK and internationally.  In Libraries we have many activities that can help people feel less i ..read more

Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from Monday 15 – Sunday 21 May 2023. This year, the campaign will focus on anxiety with the aim of increasing awareness and understanding of what it is and how we can manage anxious feelings so that they don’t become a problem. Key Facts on Mental Health and Wellbeing •Around 1 in 6 people experience symptoms for common mental health problems in England and Wales, 1 in 4 in Scotland and 1 in 5 in Northern Ireland • A recent survey found a quarter of adults felt so anxious that it stopped them from doing the things they want to do some or all of the tim ..read more

#ReadingWell – The power of reading World Mental Health Day October 10 To mark this occasion, we wanted to highlight the #ReadingWell books for children, young people, and adults.  The #ReadingWell collections includes helpful information and support for managing common mental health conditions or dealing with difficult feelings and experiences. Some books also share personal stories from people who are living with or caring for someone with mental health needs. The #ReadingWell books are all recommended by health experts, people with lived experience of the conditions and topics covered ..read more

#ReadingWell – The power of reading World Mental Health Day October 10 To mark this occasion, we wanted to highlight the #ReadingWell books for children, young people, and adults.  The #ReadingWell collections includes helpful information and support for managing common mental health conditions or dealing with difficult feelings and experiences. Some books also share personal stories from people who are living with or caring for someone with mental health needs. The #ReadingWell books are all recommended by health experts, people with lived experience of the conditions and topics covered ..read more

#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek is an opportunity to talk about all aspects of mental health. Advice and support for all ages can be found in #ReadingWell books at our library – many as e-books and audiobooks. #ReadTalkShare and find the help you need to support your health and wellbeing in uncertain times. The books are available to borrow from our libraries. You can request them with our Click and Collect service or download from our Online Library ..read more

You can also access the Reading Well for children is a booklist of expert endorsed reading to support children’s mental health and wellbeing. The list is targeted at children in Key Stage 2 but includes titles aimed at a wide range of reading levels to support less confident readers, and to encourage children to read together with their siblings and carers. Developed by charity The Reading Agency (www.readingagency.org.uk) in partnership with Libraries Connected and the UK public library network, Reading Well is a national books on prescription programme that provides helpful reading to suppor ..read more

October 10 is World Mental Health Day and this year’s theme is “mental health for all”. Most people would agree that 2020 has been a very challenging year so far, and prioritising mental health has never been more important. The charity Mind is encouraging people on World Mental Health Day to do one thing for better mental health. For wellbeing tips, help and support visit https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/world-mental-health-day/ Reading Well for Mental Health is a programme organised by the Reading Agency, which aims to provide helpful information and support for managing common mental h ..read more

If you want to take up a healthier lifestyle, but need advice and information to get started – or if you are flagging and need a bit of extra motivation – then have a look at our e-resources, we may have something that could help. You will find a good selection of magazines on Pressreader (https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/libraries/library-services/e-magazines/) – titles that deal specifically with healthy lifestyles are Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Health & Fitness, Men’s Fitness and Women’s Fitness. In addition, you will find several magazines on running, cycling and sport. Everything you ..read more