SOMERSET doctors could prescribe patients suffering the January blues...a visit to the library.

They could be recommended to borrow self-help books as treatment offered by participating GPs, counsellors or mental health practitioners in the county.

The initiative, through a partnership between Somerset County Council and Somerset Primary Care Trust, will run alongside prescriptions for medication and counselling.

GPs will be able to suggest taking out books covering a variety of topics such as depression, stress, anxiety, shyness, panic attacks, low self-esteem and weight problems.

The aim is for people to discover for themselves straightforward, practical tips and techniques to manage their moods and cope with the day-to-day stresses of modern life.

Dan Marshall, a primary care mental health worker in Taunton, said: "Patients with mild to moderate depression or anxiety can really benefit from using the new Book Prescription service.

"What we are trying to do is provide an alternative option to counselling or medication for patients with mild to moderate mental health conditions.

"Patients attend their GP or mental health practitioner a normal and a prescription for a self-help book may be offered.

"The patient then takes the prescription to a local library to collect the prescribed books - it's simple, easy and free!"

The initiative comes as figures show that at any one time 25% of patients registered with any GP surgery - or more than 50,000 people in Somerset - are on medication for depression or anxiety.

Cllr Justin Robinson, Somerset County Council's portfolio holder for adult and community services, said: "Self-help books have few side-effects and invite the patient to empower themselves through reading and learning, taking control of their own emotional well-being.

"One of the aims of the scheme is to encourage people to not only help themselves with the self-help books, but also to benefit from the wide range of facilities and activities that Somerset libraries can offer."

Borrowers do not have to be library members as the prescriptions will act as temporary memberships.