Posted 22 January 2009
Bibliotherapy – self-help books available on prescription
A Books on Prescription Scheme to support students with their medical or counselling treatment was officially launched by RTE Presenter, Ryan Tubridy at University College Dublin on Wednesday 21 January 2008.
Under the scheme, funded by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, as part of their treatment UCD students will receive prescriptions from the UCD student health centre for specially selected health and well-being books.
Pictured far right: RTÉ Presenter, Ryan Tubridy and Dr Ciara O'Dowd, GP, UCD Student Health Service
Over 183 health and well-being titles have been selected by the medical and counselling staff of the UCD student health service to assist students who present with medical or psychological problems.
“The value of carefully selected self-help materials is widely acknowledged by health professionals as a useful early step in the treatment of anxiety, depression and other mental health problems," says Dr Fiona Thompson, GP in the UCD student health service.
Pictured at the official launch (l-r): RTÉ Presenter, Ryan Tubridy with Dr Fiona Thompson, GP, UCD student health service and Emmet Browne, Wyeth Ireland
“As a first step in treatment, during a patient consultation students may be recommended a specific title to assist them with understanding their specific problems and learning to cope with their particular issue,” she says.
“To obtain the health or well-being books, patients present the prescription at the UCD Health Sciences Library. The books can be borrowed for 2 week periods,” says Peter Hickey, Head of Academic Library Services at University College Dublin.
Pictured at the official launch (l-r): Peter Hickey,Head of Academic Library Services at University College Dublin, RTÉ Presenter, Ryan Tubridy and Dr Fiona Thompson, GP, UCD student health service
UCD is the first Irish university to offer Books on Prescription as part of medical or counselling treatment for students. All doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, and counselling staff in the UCD student health centre have a list of books and prescription pads for the scheme.
The books, which are located in the UCD Health Sciences Library, adjacent to the UCD student health centre, are available on loan to all UCD students, with or without a prescription.
