Our health has a large impact on our overall wellbeing. Northumberland Libraries offer a range of resources and information which aim to help people improve their health and wellbeing and which are freely available for everyone to use.

Reading Well supports you to understand and manage your health and wellbeing using helpful reading. The books are all chosen and recommended by health experts, as well as by people with living with the conditions and topics covered, and their relatives and carers. The books are available for anyone to borrow from the local library. 

Many of the titles are also available to borrow as an eBook or eAudiobook via BorrowBox with your library card number and PIN. If you are not a member of the library you can join online.

Reading Well for mental health

Reading Well for mental health provides helpful information and support for managing common mental health conditions, or dealing with difficult feelings and experiences. Some books also include personal stories from people who are living with or caring for someone with mental health needs. 

View the titles recommended for Reading Well for mental health

Reading Well for teens

Reading Well for teens suggests recommended reading and digital resources to help you understand your feelings and boost your confidence. Teens and health and wellbeing experts have chosen the books to help you manage your emotions and cope with difficult times.

The booklist is targeted at teenagers (13–18) and includes a range of reading levels and formats to support less confident readers and encourage engagement.

View the titles recommended for Reading Well for young people

Reading Well for children

Reading Well for children provides quality-assured information, stories and advice to support children's mental health and wellbeing. It covers general information and advice about understanding and managing feelings, school and online pressures, bereavement, parental mental health needs, and living well with specific diagnosed conditions and physical disabilities.

The booklist is targeted at children in Key Stage 2 (aged 7-11), 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.

View the titles recommended for Reading Well for children

Reading Well for dementia

Reading Well for dementia provides information and advice for people living with dementia, support for living well, advice for relatives and carers, as well as fiction, memoir and photographic books used in reminiscence therapy.

View the titles recommended for Reading Well for dementia