A new scheme which uses reading to help the six million people in England who suffer from conditions such as depression and anxiety, is now available to access in libraries across Wiltshire.

Reading Well Books on Prescription will enable GPs and other health professionals to recommend 30 self-help titles for people to borrow from the local library. The service, which launched nationally last Tuesday, is now being put into place in public libraries across England.

It is a joint initiative from independent charity The Reading Agency and the Society of Chief Librarians, working with local library services and LIFT Psychology Teams, and offers people self-help books from the library as part of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) prescribed by a health professional.

Wiltshire Council, in partnership with Swindon Borough Council, will both have multiple copies of the core list of 30 titles covering issues such as anxiety, depression, phobias, panic attacks, bulimia and sleep problems. The titles will be available to borrow free of charge from local library branches or online through the request service.

Jonathon Seed, cabinet member for libraries, said: “This scheme will allow anyone in Wiltshire, in need of such support, to access self-help books locally and for free. Our libraries are friendly, community focused places, so I am delighted we are able to participate and help support the health and well-being of many local people.”