West Sussex libraries offer mental health help to teenagers

West Sussex County Council has launched Shelf Help – a collection of books, reviewed by clinicians, to help with a range of conditions.

The collection, which tackles topics from life pressures and depression to self-harm and exams, includes books such as Stuff that Sucks and Mind Your Head.

Other well-known books include The Perks of Being a Wallflower to help understand anxiety, worry and panic, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time to help understand autism.

David Barling, cabinet member for residents’ services, said: ‘Around one in 10 young people have a mental health diagnosis so it is essential that we support them in a number of ways including through our libraries.’

A total of 36 libraries in Sussex are taking part in the initiative.

For details, see westsussex.gov.uk/libraries.