Rutland Library Service is stocking a new 'Reading Well for children' booklist as part of a national drive to support children's mental health and wellbeing.

Coinciding with Children's Mental Health Week, UK charity The Reading Agency and Libraries Connected have launched the new children's mental health scheme as part of their Reading Well programme.

This new Reading Well for children booklist responds to research which has found that one in eight (12.8 percent) children aged from five to 19 had at least one mental health condition when assessed in 2017.

In 2019, BookTrust also reported that more than a third of parents of children aged four to 11 worried about their child's mental health at least once a week.

Launched on the first day of Children's Mental Health Week 2020, the new Reading Well booklist has been recognised by the Royal Society for Public Health and developed in partnership with Libraries Connected

The list contains 33 books covering important topics for children including grief, anxiety, bullying and staying safe online.

In recognition of the potential impact of living with diagnosed conditions and physical disabilities, the booklist also explores living well with conditions including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), dyslexia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and physical disabilities.

The booklist is targeted at children in Key Stage 2 and includes titles suitable for a wide range of reading levels.

This is intended to support less confident readers and to encourage children to read together with their siblings and carers.

The book selection panel included experts from public libraries, NHS England, Mind, the Royal College of GPs and the School Library Association.

Created in partnership with Libraries Connected, the expert-endorsed booklist is completely free to access from Rutland libraries, where they are now on display.

Councillor Lucy Stephenson, Rutland's Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, said: "This initiative acknowledges the power of words: the power to be able to explore the often complex issues that present themselves to young people in a modern society, offering opportunities to deepen understanding about themselves and others.

"This contributes to the development of well-rounded, resilient, thoughtful young people as they embark on their journey through life. The body and mind must be nourished in equal measure; I am delighted, therefore, that our libraries will be supporting this invaluable work."

Rutland County Council operates public libraries in Oakham, Uppingham, Ketton and Ryhall, as well as a mobile library vehicle – all of which are completely free to use for children and adults of all ages.

Reading Well is just one of a number of initiatives that Rutland Libraries have taken part in to support health and wellbeing and to combat isolation, including Rhymetimes to support the development of literacy and communication skills for under-fives, support for Reading Groups, Reading Friends activities, provision of sensory backpacks and coloured overlays for dyslexic and SEN visitors, health and wellbeing events and coffee mornings.

For more information about Rutland Libraries, including a full list of library services and opening times, click on the red button below.