It’s official – Suffolk Community Libraries can help you feel better!

By James Powell | 9 October 2025

Suffolk Community Libraries is marking World Mental Health Day by reminding everyone how the library service can improve your mental health and wellbeing.

Suffolk has one of the only library services with its own mental health and wellbeing team – offering a wide range of services, activities and information and signposting people to the many other organisations who can help.

World Mental Health Day is organised by the Mental Health Foundation and takes place on 10 October every year. It’s a chance for everyone to talk about mental health and ways which can help us all cope with life’s ups and downs.

Wellbeing is at the heart of Suffolk’s library service with a huge range of free activities and resources available.

Libraries offer a wide range of health and wellbeing activities which can help with your physical and mental health and wellbeing. These include the successful Open Space drop-in sessions. Many of the wider activities and events in libraries can also help your wellbeing by offering an opportunity to try new things and meet new people and make friends. This can be a great way of tackling loneliness and isolation for people of all ages.

Books can also help to make people feel better too! You can browse and borrow from lists of Reading Well books recommended by health experts, as well as people with lived experience of the conditions and topics covered and their relatives and carers. There are lists of books for all ages and there are books covering topics like stress and anxiety, sleep, dementia, new and expecting parents and bereavement. You can browse the various lists on the website and then reserve and collect them from the library.

The Moving Minds programme can also help with your physical health with free Move It exercise equipment available to hire from libraries and Falls Prevention strength and balance classes for over 65s. You can even borrow a blood pressure monitor from your local library.

The Know Another drink awareness project also offers support, advice and guidance to help you understand your alcohol intake.

Our wellbeing pages provide plenty of information about all these including information to support anyone affected by the menopause.

Suffolk Libraries also works in partnership with Suffolk Mind and Suffolk Family Carers to deliver the advice, guidance and emotional support service (SAGES). SAGES can help anyone worried about their own mental wellbeing or someone else’s. There are many services available locally and nationally which can offer support or information on a wide range of mental health and wellbeing issues. For more information visit our SAGES web section. SAGES is funded by the Mental Health Pooled fund provided by Suffolk County Council.

One example of the many ongoing projects making a difference is Curious Minds, a project involving Suffolk Community Libraries, Suffolk Artlink and other local organisations. It’s a creative programme being run in Ipswich and East Suffolk for people with two or more long term health conditions. Sessions are led by professional artists and those taking part explore their creativity, make new friends, improve their wellbeing and health, whilst also learning creative skills.

One participant said:

“My life used to be really busy until my depression. Before I did Curious Minds, I didn’t do much and some days I didn’t even get dressed. I have now made friends, I never used to have many friends. Before I was quite happy to stay inside and not do anything, but I have now signed up for more courses. I never used to have many friends and now I do thanks to Curious Minds. I look forward to things now and feel so much better!”

Sarah Woodcock, Suffolk Community Libraries Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Manager, said:

“World Mental Health Day is a perfect opportunity to remind people of the many ways our library service can help people with their health and wellbeing. Some of the things we offer continue to surprise people and we are always hearing about conversations and interactions which take place in our libraries which can be the first step to someone getting the help and support they need. Plus our website is packed with information and support.”