Book Week NI

Mental Health / Family Health

Book Week NI 18 - 24 October

Book Week NI is a joint initiative celebrating the pleasures and benefits of reading, arising from the partnership between BBC Northern Ireland and Libraries NI.

Book Week NI, now in its sixth year, encourages everyone to visit their local library to start reading again, read something new, to set some time aside for reading with the children in our lives or to simply take some time to yourself to read and relax.

Reading for pleasure has many great benefits to our mental health and wellbeing, and taking even a few minutes to read each day can provide us with much needed escapism and relaxation from our busy, daily lives.

The theme for this year is Read All About It! and will focus on a different genre of book for each day of the week. The daily themes this year are particularly exciting as we are celebrating all that is wonderful about our local libraries on Wednesday 20 October with a Love Your Library Day.

Branches will be busy hosting events and activities for adults and children of all ages so it is the perfect time to reconnect with your local library. Simply call in to say hello and tell us why you love your local library, borrow or return books or get the whole family involved in whatever activity is taking place!  

To help everyone get involved, we have suggestions of books, audiobooks, eBooks, eMagazines and eAudiobooks for all ages to read. Also, themed book displays and activities will take place in libraries throughout the week and the BBC’s programming will link to Book Week NI across its air waves.

To find out more, and to borrow free e-books, please follow the link

Book Week NI

Mental Health Useful Resources

Your Mind Plan offers practical ideas and advice to help you boost and maintain your mental wellbeing. Answer the quick 5-question quiz and the Every Mind Matters widget will give you 5 tailored actions to help you feel more in control, improve your sleep, deal with stress and anxiety, and boost your mood – as well as the option to easily swap any actions and to save the whole plan via email.

Mental Health Helplines & Web Chats

Samaritans
Action Mental Health
Association for Post-Natal Illness Helpline
Aware NI - Support Groups
Aware NI - Online Support Groups
Mind - Side by Side Online Community