Take 10 and Shelf Help Initiatives Support Mental Health ( Published: 16/10/2018)

Shelf Help is a national reading scheme to support young people’s mental health. There are 35 titles, both fiction and non-fiction, selected by young people and mental health experts. The scheme has been devised to help young people cope with the pressures of life and to feel more confident about dealing with difficult feelings.

Take 10 is part of the Read Manchester campaign. Take 10 is about encouraging people of all ages to start a daily reading habit. It celebrates the positive effects of reading for pleasure, including the power to help you relax. Research has shown that regular readers for pleasure are less likely to experience feelings of stress and depression than non-readers.

Here at Whalley Range 11-18 High School, we continually promote the importance and benefits of reading. Part of this is ensuring that our library is a welcoming space where students feel safe, and also ensuring that a wide range of reading materials are available.

Mrs Davies, LRC Manager commented:

These titles have been specifically chosen to support our young people. There is so much stress and anxiety these days that any support we can offer our students is welcome. Taking just 10 minutes each day to read can have a hugely positive impact on your mental health, so give it a try!