Alison Dunne, the Book Doctor at Leicester Libraries, tells us about the Hill of Happiness social read group:
The Hill of Happiness Social Read group first started at New Parks Library as an Everybody’s Reading Storycafe. It is based on principles of bibliotherapy – or the ‘reading cure’ – the proposition that reading can heal and has been funded partly by Whatever ItTakes. Leicester Libraries’ Book Doctor, Alison Dunne tells Reading Groups for Everyone more about the group:
The simple aim was to use reading together, aloud to make people feel better. But we needed a way to measure it. The Hill of Happiness was born. A hand drawn tool focusing at the beginning and end of sessions so people could indicate how far up the hill they felt on any day.
Initial introductions for group members were made via the NHS Community Development Coordinator and it was decided that the group should meet weekly in order to build confidence and esteem. The members, to begin with, were diagnosed or self diagnosed sufferers of depression.
There were real self confidence issues among some members of the group, one having to be collected by car as she was too anxious to use public transport. It was soon apparent that alongside depression the members of the group had many other issues, recent bereavements, physical health problems, isolation & family estrangements to name but a few.
The group’s confidence in reading together and aloud has risen along with general esteem and confidence. Some members who pointed out they needed a subterranean extension to the Hill of Happiness they were feeling so low, now routinely point out they are halfway up and staying stable. The group has grown and shrunk and grown again, offered support and advice and made a lot of noise, mainly through great gales of laughter.
What the group has to say
‘I always feel happier than when we walked in. It brings me out of myself.’
‘The group gets you used to talking to different people and get to know them on more than a superficial level’.
‘Magic happens with the poems and stories. They spark off conversations and memories.’
‘Sometimes I come and don’t feel like telling anyone anything but then feel relaxed – I don’t usually tell people anything.’
‘It gives you something to look forward to and stops you being a hermit.I like to listen to the stories.’
‘I didn’t like poetry when I started, now I think there are some poems I like, it’s finding the right ones.’
‘I was never confident to read aloud, it makes me shake, but I’ve got a lot of confidence from the group and I read out every week.’
‘I didn’t fancy a book group but Jane dragged me in. It’s not like that though. It’s about talking about things.’
‘We used to be lower down the Hill of Happiness but now we’re about halfway up.That’s progress!’
Get involved
The Reading Agency runs two schemes to help people who are anxious or depressed find books to help.
Reading Well Mood-boosting Books a list of mood-boosting novels, poetry and non-fiction that have been recommended by reading groups and readers.
Reading Well Books on Prescription are self-help books that have all been endorsed by medical professionals prescribed by doctors and available from local libraries.
Find a Reading Well Mood-boosting Books group to join.
Run a reading group that boosts people’s mood? Do add it to Reading Groups for Everyone.
If you’ve got a story to tell about your reading group or book club, please do get in touch.
