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Health Zone

Read yourself well

Improve your mental health, increase daily brain training and reduce the risk of dementia.

Get well with libraries

Your local library has the tools you need to take control of your own health and wellbeing. Or join in our groups and make friends to stop loneliness and learn new skills. What are you waiting for? Get well and stay well with East Riding Libraries.

Reading Well

Just six minutes of reading has shown to reduce your heart rate and muscle tension faster than other relaxation methods, like listening to music or having a cup of tea (2009 study by University of Sussex).Reading is the simplest form of brain training to help memory, vocabulary and concentration, and best of all its done using a topic you enjoy.

The Reading Well initiative is here to help you understand yourself and those you care for, increase your ability to communicate your concerns and learn ways to live healthier, happier and more confidently. Remember, you can reserve any books and pick them up at your local library using your online library account. All facts from The reading agency and Libraries Connected.

Start reading now

Browse our eBooks . Search 'health' for reading well suggestions. Find out how to set up eReading free with your library membership number.

Children
Reading Well for children provides support for children's mental health and wellbeing. It covers general information and advice about understanding and managing feelings, school and online pressures, bereavement, parental mental health needs, and living well with diagnosed conditions and physical disabilities.

The booklist is targeted at children in Key Stage 2 (aged 7-11), but includes titles aimed at a wider range of reading levels to encourage children to read. Browse the digital leaflet and reserve copies of the books to collect from your local East Riding Library

Browse digital leafletOrder books
Long-term conditions
In the UK, 15 million people are living with long-term conditions. From arthritis and fatigue to diabetes and heart disease, these books can help you manage conditions for a better quality of life.

Browse books
Download the book list PDF
Mental health
One in four of us and our families will experience the consequences of mental health. These books can help adults with common mental health issues and their carers, providing step-by-step self-help techniques and more.

Browse books
Memory loss
One person develops dementia every three minutes. These books can help you understand more about dementia and memory loss. They offer information, help after diagnosis, real people's stories and practical support.

Browse books
Download the book list PDF
Shelf help for teens
Mood boosting books to read yourself to greater wellbeing. Specially selected for 13 to 18 year olds, find information and support to get you through anxiety, bullying, exam stress, eating disorders and more.

Browse books
Download the book list PDF

Free health eMagazinesYou can use your free library membership to download and read free eMagazines. There are lots of health magazines on our eShelf. Find out how.

Health and Fitness
Men's Fitness
Women's Health
Runner's World

Living with memory loss

Many of our libraries hold reminiscence groups where members take a trip down memory lane, look at memory boxes with items to remind them of days gone by and it is also a chance to make friends and share their own stories. The groups welcome people with dementia or any memory problems and their carers.

Search for reminiscence groups

Digital reminiscence

Build your life story with photos, music and captions with our Digital Reminiscence Unit. A fun activity for families or friends to share valuable memories and experiences. Creating life stories has been proven to help improve the wellbeing and cognitive ability for people with mild to moderate dementia and memory loss. It is also an important treasure for friends and family, helping to improve relationships with loves ones. Get in touch to start building your story

Dementia friends

East Riding of Yorkshire is a dementia-friendly county. All of our staff at East Riding Libraries are trained Dementia Friends from the Alzheimer's Society, so they have a good understanding of how dementia affects people.

Training available for care staff

East Riding Libraries offer a full Reminiscence package for those people who cannot access Reminiscence in our branch Libraries. Care settings can access our high quality training to train their staff and ensure their residents demonstrate high levels of wellbeing and plenty of 'magic moments'.

Sessions are £100 (we recommend six sessions). Please call the library health team on (01482) 39704 for more information.

10% of older people in the UK are lonely

but loneliness is not unique to age.

  • Anyone, at any time, can feel lonely. Use our More Than Books page to find interesting groups and activities at your local library to help improve your physical and mental wellbeing.

  • The East Riding has invested in its mobile libraries and we visit over 140 villages delivering a library service into the heart of rural communities.

  • If you are unable to visit a library due to your health and don't have a friend or family member who can go for you we can offer an at home library service. Get in touch to find out more.

Cuppa and a Chorus Online

The hugely popular 'Cuppa and a Chorus' events are now online. There is no requirement for participants to be able to read music or have any previous experience of singing. The sessions are pre-recorded and are released fortnightly on Thursdays.

View all weekly sessions

Chatter and Natter

East Riding Libraries is part of the Chatty Cafe Scheme. This means at each library you can find a table where you are free to sit and chat with anyone else who sits there. We have seven permanent chatter and natter tables , while all other libraries have weekly sessions. Find your nearest library to find out when the chatty cafe is available.

Who can join in?
Anyone! Whether you are on your own, with friends, a carer, family or kids, anyone can sit down at the table and chat together. Chatter and natter tables are there for all ages to give a comfortable and friendly place to have a chat.
What do I do?
On your next visit to your local library, look for the signs to the chatter and natter table and take a seat. Stay for five minutes or for longer, the choice is yours. This isn't about making friends, just having good old fashioned human interaction.
Find a Library

Find out more about the Chatty Cafe Scheme.

Safe Places

All branch East Riding Libraries are part of the Safe Places scheme. Just show a member of staff your Safe Places card and they will assist you. Find out more about the Safe Place scheme, including how to get a free card, finding other safe places or registering your business to be a Safe Place on the East Riding of Yorkshire Council website.

Visit eastriding.gov.uk

Be happy and well

Want to find more ways to improve your wellbeing? Visit East Riding Health and Wellbeing and search for nearby groups and clubs for sports, activities, creativity and learning new skills. Find local and national services for your health, such as dementia support at home, anxiety and stress, help to quit smoking, losing weight, how to improve wellbeing in the workplace and much more.

Visit HappyAndWell.Me

64 Million Artists: Create to Connect

Creative challenges to keep you connected, curious and creative at home. Download a free activity pack to help you engage your communities in the challenges - online and offline.

Find out more
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