Library resources to support student and staff mental health
If you or someone close to you is going through a difficult time or coping with a condition or stressor, sometimes reading about these situations can help. The Library works with the Welfare Team to purchase books to support those seeking to understand and manage health and wellbeing using helpful reading. The Reading Well programme is an excellent resource. Reading Well books are all recommended by health experts, as well as by people with lived experience of the conditions and topics covered and their relatives and carers. The Library holds some of the Reading Well books.
There is also evidence that reading novels and poetry can reduce stress and boost your mood. The Library has a growing collection of this sort of material. Some of the books interactive, others are simply soothing. All we hope are enjoyable, and help you to relax and be productive.
What you borrow from the Library is completely confidential. For help finding a book, please ask our friendly staff at the Library Desk.
The Bodleian provides access to a collection of self-help e-books which was drawn up in consultation with the Counselling Service. There are also two Oxford Reading Lists Online: Reading Well Books on Prescription helps people to understand and manage their health and wellbeing through using self-help reading and Reading Well Mind Boosting Books, which is a national promotion of uplifting titles including novels, poetry and non-fiction.
