Healthy Minds Book Prescription

Many self-help books are effective in helping people understand emotional problems. Self-help books can also teach skills in how to manage common difficulties such as stress and low mood.


  • Stress
  • Low mood / Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Panic
  • Sleep problems
  • Parenting
  • Anger
  • Relaxation

In some regions, NHS professionals and local library services have been working together to make it easier to access self-help books for a range of common psychological problems. These are called Book Prescription schemes, and can encourage people to use books as an alternative to, or alongside, medication and therapy services.


The books included in the Healthy Minds Books on Prescription scheme have been recommended by NHS mental health professionals within psychological therapies services.  General Practitioners (GPs) and other NHS professionals can signpost to these resources, which may be available to borrow from your local library.


The books on the scheme give useful information and suggest strategies, although they may not be effective for everyone. It may be that after reading some of the resources from the Books on Prescription scheme, you feel you would benefit from some other support. We would recommend that you discuss this with your GP.


Perth and Kinross Books on Prescription Scheme

Book Week Scotland 2020

Book Prescription Bookmarks thumbnail
Book Week Scotland (16-22 November 2020) is an annual celebration of books and reading that takes place across Scotland. NHS Tayside are joining in with a series of articles to promote the Healthy Minds Book Prescription scheme. During Book Week we have a number of posts to promote the use of books and reading in helping us with our mental health and wellbeing. They are structured to follow the 'five ways to wellbeing'; connect, be active, take notice, keep learning, and give. To remind you of this scheme, and share with friends, you can download and print-your-own promotional bookmarks for the Healthy Minds Book Prescription scheme by clicking on the image above!
Find out more about Book Week Scotland here:
https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/book-week-scotland

How does it work?

  1. Decide which book or topic is most relevant to your problem. You might discuss this with an NHS professional, view the book list online, or browse titles in your local library or on their online catalogue.
  2. If you have chosen a resource in collaboration with your GP or other NHS professional in Perth and Kinross, then they can complete a Book Prescription for you.
  3. When visiting your local library, if you cannot find the appropriate book or cannot find the self-help section, please ask a member of staff.
    Culture Perth and Kinross library members can use their new Click and Collect service.
  4. Take a note of how long you are able to borrow the resource for (usually 6 weeks).
  5. After reading the book, please complete the evaluation / feedback form on the back of the book prescription, if you have used this, and give it to a member of staff in the library when you return the item.

Who can use the scheme?

Anyone who is a member of their local library can borrow self-help titles which may be listed as part of this scheme. If you are registered with a Perth and Kinross Medical Practice, or you are currently receiving care within the NHS, you do not need to be a member of the library. A book prescription from an NHS professional in Perth and Kinross will give you immediate temporary membership of your local library.


Books included in the Healthy Minds Books on Prescription scheme may be available to all library members to borrow just like any other library book. If a title is already on loan, your library may be able to request a copy from another library, if available, or reserve it for you.

What resources are available?

A list of the resources may be found in the book lists available to download on this webpage. Alongside self help books, there is a relaxation CD from Steps for Stress, and a DVD from Living Life to the Full that are available to borrow from Perth and Kinross local community libraries.
A short trailer for this DVD self help programme can be viewed here:


Healthy Minds Book Prescription Leaflet
Adult Mental Health Book List
Children & Young People's Mental Health Book List
HM Queen Elizabeth II black and white
NHS Tayside Logo White
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

1926 - 2022