Markham Public Library launches bibliotherapy initiative to support mental wellness

Books can have the transformative power to help people de-stress

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 1, 2021
Scarlett Liu

With mental health concerns rising due to the COVID-related lockdown restrictions, many people are feeling stressed, isolated and hopeless.

According to a recent poll completed by the Canadian Mental Health Association, 53 per cent of Ontarians are experiencing mental health-related issues and 67 per cent of Ontarians are worried about the toll of the pandemic on their loved ones.

“We are committed to supporting our residents and the community during these hard times,” the statement on Markham Public Library’s website reads, “that’s why we have put together a bibliotherapy initiative called Book Healing to help people deal with the elevated levels of stress.”

The idea is books have the transformative power to help people de-stress and view life from a fresh perspective.

How does the Book Healing service work? “It is an offering which staff work to pair customers with the perfect reads to support their mental health because reading a book that parallels one’s own experience can alleviate stress, anxiety and general malaise,” MPL explained in an email response.

The Book Healing service also helps MPL start an implicit mental health conversation with customers and offer escapist literature to assist with the stress of everyday life.

To use the service, customers must fill out an online form informing MPL staff of their reading preferences. You will then receive a personalized reading list with two or three suggestions aimed at supporting your well-being and countering the struggles you are facing.

Customers can place holds on books they like and pick them up using the curbside service.

MPL will also be creating a wide array of wellness-related reading lists and blog posts covering different mental health issues throughout the year, more information can be found on MPL’s Health and Wellness page.