PEOPLE in Wiltshire who live with long term health conditions are being encouraged to participate in a new reading scheme this summer.

The programme, Reading Well, calls for people to go to their local library and borrow books to help them better understand their conditions.

Since its launch, the Reading Well scheme has reached 635,000 people.

It has been endorsed by the public as well as by GPs, mental health professionals and government ministers as a helpful community-based health service.

The booklist of 28 titles provides adults living with long term conditions with advice, information and support including self-help, psycho-education and memoir.

It covers common symptoms associated with living with a long term condition including pain, fatigue, sleeping problems, mental health and wellbeing.

In a recent survey, 96 per cent of those who have borrowed a book from the mental health list said it has been helpful, while 90 per cent said that the scheme helped them to better understand and manage their condition.

The move is being backed by Wiltshire Council which is providing a series of books in libraries around the county.

For more information about the scheme, email readingwell@readingagency.org.uk, or visit reading-well.org.uk