Reading Well self-help books

The University Mental Health Support Team, Counselling Service and Library have introduced a range of self-help books available for students and staff. Further details about obtaining these for free are available below:

"Reading Well" Books on Prescription titles can now be accessed from the University Library. The scheme provides self-help reading based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for adults for a range of common mental health conditions including anxiety and depression.

Reference copies of all the books in the scheme are located in the Leisure Reading Collection in the University Library. Loanable copies are available from the Loughborough Public Library on Granby Street.

There are a range of ‘Mood-boosting’ books relating to mental health and wellbeing (novels, non-fiction and poetry) which are available to loan from the University Library too.

For more information on these schemes visit The Reading Agency website

Wellbeing websites

The below websites can be useful to help you manage your health and wellbeing:

NHS Live Well- Advice, tips and tools to help you make the best choices about your health and wellbeing.

The 5 Ways to Wellbeing- 5 steps researched and developed by the New Economics Foundations

One you- One You is here to help you get healthier and feel better with free tips, tools and support

Mindfulness Resources

The following set of journals allow you to reflect on your feelings and emotions, with the opportunity to plan for the day, week and month ahead. We recommend to try to put some time aside each month to read through past journals and to continuing adding to them. You can either download the full set of journals (first link below), or the individual journals below.

• Reflective journals: Complete set
• Reflective journal: 1. Intro
• Reflective journal: 2. Daily diary
• Reflective journal: 3. Daily reflection
• Reflective journal: 4. Weekly planner
• Reflective journal: 5. Monthly planner
• Reflective journal: 6. Happiness activities

Self-help guide

• After a crisis - PDF guide.

Self-help guides

• Alcohol use - PDF self-help information.
• Drugs - PDF self-help information.

NHS self-help guide - Alcohol and you.

Websites/ support services

Mind - Recreational drugs and alcohol information.

Turning Point - Support service offering a variety of treatment options for alcohol and substance use.

Frank - Honest information about drugs.

Drink aware - information and advice.

Alcoholics Anonymous - Support with personal recovery and continued sobriety of individual alcoholics.

Narcotics Anonymous - open to anyone with a drug problem seeking help.

Self-help guides

• Anger Management - PDF self-help information.

NHS self-help guide- Controlling Anger.

Mind self-help guide- How to cope with Anger.

Websites/ support services

Respect- Information and support for people who are worried about their violent or aggressive behaviour towards loved ones.

Self-help guides

• Anxiety - PDF self-help information.

NHS self-help guide - Anxiety.

Mind self-help guide - Anxiety and Panic attacks.

Websites/ support services

Let’s Talk Wellbeing - Providing NHS psychological therapies.

Anxiety UK - Advice and support.

No panic - Provides information, support and advice for those with panic disorder, anxiety, phobias and OCD.

Living Life to the Full - Offers help for mild to moderate depression, anxiety and insomnia.

Anxiety online workshop - An online workshop about anxiety and looking at ways you may be able to manage it.

Self-help guides

• Bereavement - self-help information.

NHS self-help guide- Bereavement.

Mind self-help guide- Bereavement.

Websites/ support services

Cruse Bereavement Care - Offer advice and support for those affected by bereavement.

SOBS (Survivors of bereavement by suicide) - Advice and support for those bereaved by suicide.

Self-help guides

• Bullying - self-help information.

Self-help guides

• Depression - self-help information

Helping a friend or partner with depression - self-help information.

NHS self-help guide - Depression and low mood.

Mind self-help guide - depression.

Websites/ support services

Living Life to the Full - Offers help for mild to moderate depression, anxiety and insomnia.

Students Against Depression - offering advice, information, guidance and resources to those affected by low mood, depression and suicidal thinking.

Let’s Talk Wellbeing - Providing NHS psychological therapies.

Self-help guides

• Domestic abuse in relationships - self-help information.

Student Services Knowviolence campaign - on domestic and sexual violence and stalking.

NHS self-help guide - domestic violence.

Websites/ support services

UAVA (United against Violence and Abuse) - A consortium of three local specialist providers of domestic abuse and sexual violence services.

Self help guides

• ‌Eating problems - self-help information.

NHS self-help guide - Eating Disorders.

Mind self-help guide - Eating Problems.

Websites/ support services

Beat - giving individuals experiencing an eating disorder and their loved ones a place where they feel listened to, supported and empowered.

EDISS (Eating Disorders in Student Services) -  EDISS offers the following services, Peer support, Counselling, Recovery and Self-Help Groups, Online Befriending, Drop-in support and Volunteering opportunities. (appointments available on campus)

Self-help guides

• Exam stress - self-help information.
• Stress less booklet: help with exam stress.

NHS self-help guide - Stress.

Mind self-help guide - Stress.

Self-help guides

• Loneliness - self-help information.
• Homesickness - self-help information.

Mind self-help guide - Loneliness.

Self-help guides

• Medical issues - self-help information.

Self-help guides

• Procrastination - self-help information.

Self-help guides

• Rape and sexual assault - self-help information.

Student Services Knowviolence campaign - on domestic and sexual violence and stalking.

Websites/ support services

UAVA (United against Violence and Abuse)- A consortium of three local specialist providers of domestic abuse and sexual violence services.

Videos

Cycling through consent - Western University:

Self-help guides

• Relationships and sexual problems - self-help information.
• Revenge porn - self-help information.

Websites / support services

Relate - The UK's largest provider of relationship support including counselling.

Trigger warning: please note that these resources contain sensitive information about self-harm which may be distressing to some.

Self-help guides

• NHS: Self-harm, a self help guide (NHS booklet including information on how people may self-harm and why, how other people might react, ways to stop harming yourself and longer term solutions, and how you can support a friend or family member who is self-harming.)
• The National Self Harm Network: What is self harm? (Booklet explaining what self harm is, who self harms and why.)
• The National Self-Harm Network: Distractions that can help. (Booklet containing suggested mechanisms for distracting from self-harm.)

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Websites/ support services

• Harmless is a user led organisation that provides a range of services about self harm and suicide prevention including support, information, training and consultancy to people who self harm, their friends and families and professionals and those at risk of suicide.
• Mind has a PDF explaining self-harm, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.
• Mind also has a page for if you need to help yourself now.
• The Mix has an article contaiing information on self-harm distractions and coping strategies.

Self-help guides

• Sexuality - self-help information.

Websites/ support services

Leicester LGBT+ Centre - Provide information on a wide range of subjects that affect LGBT people’s lives including signposting and referrals to other agencies.

LSU LGBT Association - Provide a support network for every student who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and all other denominations of sexuality and gender.

Self-help guides

• Insomnia‌ - Lboro self-help information.
• NHS self-help guide- Sleeping Problems.
• Students Against Depression - sleep log.
• Sleepful app - sleep tracker and programme to help treat insomnia.
• Mind - how to cope with sleep problems.

Websites/ support services

• Sleep and tiredness - NHS
• 10 tips to help insomnia - NHS.
• Living Life to the Full - Offers help for mild to moderate depression, anxiety and insomnia .
• UK Sleep Survey 2018.
• The Great British Bedtime Report.
• World Sleep Day - Philips.

Self-help guides

• Suicidal thoughts and feelings - self-help information.

Mind self-help guide- How to cope with Suicidal feelings.

Websites/ support services

Urgent help - details of NHS services to contact in a crisis.

Calm - Provides listening services, information and support for men at risk of suicide.

Samaritans- 24 hour emotional support for anyone struggling to cope.

SOBS (Survivors Of Bereavement by suicide) - Advice and support for those bereaved by suicide.

Self-help guides

• Surviving childhood sexual abuse - self-help information.