The North Inner City Book Prescription Scheme is the first of its kind in Ireland. The scheme allows GPs and other professionals working in Primary Care the option of confidentially recommending / prescribing relevant books to their adult patients with mild and moderate psychological problems. It allows large numbers of patients in the area to have easy access to this form of psychological treatment through their local libraries.
Participating libraries:
Participating GPs have a booklist (of 35 titles approx) from which they prescribe a book, on a special prescription pad, which the patient exchanges at the library for the book.
Three popular titles are:
- Kennerley, Helen Overcoming Anxiety, a self-help guide
- Burns, Davis D. Feeling Good Handbook
- Bates, Tony Depression the Commonsense Approach
Patient information leaflet | Download PDF version of Patient information leaflet (PDF, 158KB)
Books Can Help | Download PDF version of Books Can Help (PDF, 137KB)
Bibliotherapy Booklist | Download PDF version of Bibliotherapy Booklist (PDF, 196KB)
The Scheme involves collaboration between the HSE North Inner City Partnership in Primary Care and Dublin City Public Libraries.
Background
"Most mental health professionals acknowledge the usefulness of self-help materials. Various surveys have shown that around 80% of psychologists and counsellors regularly recommend particular texts to clients (Norcross et al., 2000). This form of treatment is known as bibliotherapy. In a survey of GPs in the North Inner City of Dublin (2003) 70% expressed an interest in self-help books and materials to offer adult patients experiencing psychological difficulties."
Elaine Martin, Senior Psychologist, Health Service Executive.