GPs to prescribe self-help library books to patients

A scheme which lends self-help books to people with mild to moderate mental health problems is about to begin in Dublin's north inner city.

Launched last week in the Central Library, Ilac Centre, Dublin, the Book Prescription Scheme encourages GPs to "prescribe" specific self-help books to patients with depression, anxiety problems or eating disorders. These books will be available on loan from local public libraries from next month.

The Book Prescription Scheme was first developed four years ago in Cardiff, Wales by consultant clinical psychologist Prof Neil Frude. "My idea was to identify high-quality self-help materials that provided cognitive behaviour therapy- [ CBT] based treatment for particular psychological problems and to inform GPs of these resources," said Prof Frude, who was in Dublin for the launch of the scheme.

In the first year of the scheme, more than 1,600 book prescriptions were "dispensed" by Cardiff libraries. Now, more than 400 public libraries participate and 2,500 prescriber packs were sent out to GPs at a cost of €300,000.

Elaine Martin, senior psychologist with the HSE North Inner City Partnership in Primary Care, is leading the Dublin project: "When people are given good psychological information, they can use it powerfully to change their lives. As resources prevent large numbers of people availing of counselling and/or psychotherapy, this approach is seen to 'bridge the gap'," she said.

For further details, contact the HSE psychological services on tel: 01-8380137 or e-mail: psychservices@eircom.net