Health information and support

lady with laptop

Your local library has always been on hand to provide helpful information and a wide range of books and other materials, but did you know it's also a great place to find health information?

If you're trying to adopt a healthier lifestyle, learn more about an illness or find a local support group, your library can help.

You can choose from a wide range of practical guides to help reduce stress levels and improve your overall health. From alternative and natural health remedies to self-help programmes and exercise regimes, you’ll be sure to find a book that suits your needs.

There’s also a full selection of books designed to help you face some of life’s toughest challenges: bereavement, serious illness, redundancy, divorce, debt and family problems.

The Healthy Reading collection

The 'Healthy Reading' collection is designed to assist people who suffer from stress or other emotional problems.

Healthy Reading is all about self-help. This collection of books covers a wide range of mental health issues such as anxiety, low mood, and low self-esteem. All of the books have been selected by health professionals.

The initiative’s aim is to provide you with information and strategies to achieve and maintain well being. With many of these books, you can pick out the chapters that you find most relevant to you, which makes the information very accessible.

The books in this collection have been chosen by health professionals and are available from your local library. You can borrow the books yourself or your GP or another health practitioner can recommend a title for you from the Healthy Reading booklist.

My Health

My Health is the new initiative from East Renfrewshire Libraries that aims to give you better access to information about your health and wellbeing. My Health consists of:

A self-help website

  • get the best information online and in your local area

  • choose from a wide range of health-related subjects

  • access hints and tips for a healthier lifestyle

  • find information on jobs, money, learning and volunteering

  • select information that's relevant to you - if you're a carer, over 60, a parent or have a disability

  • discover how to get the best from the web - find good websites, learn how to safeguard your privacy and keep your children safe online

Visit My Health online at www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/myhealth

My Health guides

My Health guides cover a variety of topics and feature information that's relevant to East Renfrewshire. You'll find hints and tips, contact details for local people and organisations who can help, and information on local services.

  • Adult Learning

  • Get Active

  • Get Involved

  • Health Information Points

  • Health at your Local Library

  • Health Care in East Renfrewshire

  • Health on the Web

  • Healthy Living

  • Help in Crisis

  • Money Advice

  • Sexual Health

My Health information points

Barrhead, Giffnock, Neilston and Thornliebank community libraries have Health Information Points (HIPs). They contain a wide range of resources:

  • Larger selection of books on healthy living, illness, bereavement and other life issues

  • The Healthy Reading collection

  • My Health guides

  • Additional leaflets on a variety of health subjects: healthy eating, mental health, sexual health, drug and alcohol information and much more

  • A dedicated PC where you can go online to check out My Health and other useful health websites

  • The services of a health information officer

Library staff will do their best to help you find the information you are looking for. Even if there isn’t a health point at your local library, it will still carry many health-related books and leaflets. You’ll also still be able check out the My Health site, as all community libraries have free Internet access.

Health Information Officer

Health Information Officer Munmun Hyder is also available at library HIPs to offer additional guidance and advice. You can talk to Munmun in a relaxed atmosphere, with the assurance that your enquiry will be treated with the strictest confidence. Munmun is based at Barrhead Library, but covers the whole of East Renfrewshire. Ask a member of staff at your nearest branch about arranging an appointment.