A SCHEME supporting teenagers' mental health through the power of reading is being rolled out at libraries across Oxfordshire.

The Reading Well book list is a range of publications endorsed by experts that may help youngsters cope with day-to-day and psychological problems.

Every item on the list, devised by national charity The Reading Agency, is now stocked and free to borrow at 12 libraries run by Oxfordshire County Council.

Lorraine Lindsay-Gale, the council’s cabinet member for cultural and community services, said: “We’re very pleased to be taking part in this scheme and hope that by reaching out in this way our libraries can help make a difference to young people’s lives.

"There are many pressures that can weigh heavily on the shoulders of young people these days and the wisdom contained in these books might just help them navigate their way through a difficult patch, or help them understand what’s going on in their head."

The books on the list may help youngsters cope with issues including anxiety, depression and self-harm, or tackle common pressures like bullying and exams.

They include self-help and non-fiction titles such as Mind Your Head by Juno Dawson and Blame My Brain: The Amazing Teenage Brain Revealed by Nicola Morgan, as well as popular novels such as The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon and The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.

Ms Lindsay-Gale added: "The books are also a great read in their own right and can be enjoyed by everyone, so I would encourage anyone interested to browse."

The Reading Well list is available at libraries in Woodcote, Sonning Common, Littlemore, Bicester, Abingdon, Banbury, Witney, Didcot, Cowley, Summertown, Thame

and Wantage. The books can also be accessed by anyone online on the county council's libraries webpage.

Gaby Clement, an activist for mental health charity YoungMinds which helped select some of the titles, said: "I believe Reading Well will challenge stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding mental illness, educating young people about mental health in general.

“Through relation to the characters, it can be a way of getting advice without being told what to do. We were looking for books which had relatable characters in fiction, and ones with positive resolutions.”

To search for the books via the online catalogue visit libcat.oxfordshire.gov.uk