Are books good for your mental health?

Bibliotherapy is an old concept. According to the Greek historian Siculus, there was a phrase above the entrance to the royal chamber where books were stored by King Ramses II of Egypt. Considered to be the oldest known library motto in the world, ψῡχῆς ἰατρεῖον on, is translated: “the house of healing for the soul”.[1]

In the early nineteenth century,  the use of literature in hospitals for both the “amusement and instruction of patients” was encouraged. By the middle of the century, Minson Galt II wrote on the uses of bibliotherapy in mental institutions, and by 1900 libraries were an important part of European psychiatric institutions.

Bibliotherapy or reading therapy is a mental health intervention. These are structured book-reading programs run by clinics, libraries, or schools aimed at promoting recovery in people with mental health difficulties. The term bibliotherapy is also used to refer to self-initiated book reading pursued by an individual with mental illness.

Does it work?

Studies found a decrease in depressive symptoms after a program of bibliotherapy [5]. Interestingly, several studies indicate that reading works of fiction can be of particular benefit to people with or without mental health difficulties. These studies indicate that reading fiction can increase reader empathy, social skills, and inter-personal understandings. Reading promotes the Theory of the Mind, what means that you are able to get into the mind of someone else. While reading stories of others the story can transform you, educate you but also make you understand the viewpoint of another person. For me reading opens my world and my brain. I can connect to others in a safe way. Reading about depression gave me besides psycho-education, recognition for my own struggles.

“People are interested in escape,” says Carol Fitzgerald of the Book Report Network [2]. “In a number of pages, the story will open, evolve and close, and a lot of what’s going on in the world today is not like that. You’ve got this encapsulated escape that you can enjoy.”

Reading and the brain.

The changes in the brain caused by reading a novel were registered in the left temporal cortex, an area associated with receptivity for language, as well as the primary sensorimotor region of the brain. Neurons of this region have been associated with tricking the mind into thinking it is doing something it is not, a phenomenon known as grounded or embodied cognition [3]. The neural changes that we found associated with physical sensation and movement systems suggest that reading a novel can transport you into the body of the protagonist.

Reading about recovering or dealing with mental struggles in the face of hardships can inspire the reader and connect their experiences to their own.

What does research say?

Researchers took fMRI scans of the brains of 21 undergraduate students while they rested. Then the students were asked to read sections of the 2003 thriller novel “Pompeii” by Robert Harris over nine nights. The students’ brains were scanned each morning following the nightly reading assignment, and then again daily for five days after they had finished the book.

The scans revealed heightened connectivity within the students’ brains on the mornings following the reading assignments. The areas with enhanced connectivity included the students’ left temporal cortex, an area of the brain associated with language comprehension, as well as in the brain’s central sulcus (the big grove), which is associated with sensations and movement.

Why is that quite surprising? The front bank of the sulcus contains neurons that control movement of parts of the body. The rear bank contains neurons that receive sensory input from the parts of the body. Enhanced connectivity here was a surprise finding, but it implies that, perhaps, the act of reading puts the reader in the body of the protagonist.

Reading a good novel allows your imagination to take flight. Novels allow you to forget about your day-to-day troubles and to transport yourself to a fantasy world that becomes a reality in your mind’s eye.

At a minimum, we can say that reading stories—especially those with strong narrative arcs—reconfigures brain networks for at least a few days. It shows how stories can stay with us.

Why do people read?

The joy of reading to people comes from entertainment, enjoyment, education, enrichment, escape, and the way it eases life in a stressful world. Overall, their answers broke down this way [4]:

• 26% of those who had read a book in the past 12 months said that what they enjoyed most was learning, gaining knowledge, and discovering information.
• 15% cited the pleasures of escaping reality, becoming immersed in another world, and the enjoyment they got from using their imaginations.
• 12% said they liked the entertainment value of reading, the drama of good stories, the suspense of watching a good plot unfold.
• 12% said they enjoyed relaxing while reading and having quiet time.
• 6% liked the variety of topics they could access via reading and how they could find books that particularly interested them.
• 4% said they enjoy finding spiritual enrichment through reading and expanding their worldview.
• 3% said they like being mentally challenged by books.
• 2% cited the physical properties of books – their feel and smell – as a primary pleasure.

In their own words, respondents were eloquent and touching. One respondent noted:     “I am an English teacher, so I read to save my sanity from grading essays.” Those who talked about quiet entertainment tended toward phrases like “a stress-free escape,” “a nice way to relax,” “I read because it’s not work,” “diverting, entertaining and educational,” and “It draws me away from reality.” That was echoed by a respondent who said reading “takes you away, like a movie in your head.” One respondent said he liked reading “because it helps me with my temper and relaxes me.” And another described the pleasure of “losing myself” in a book, while another said “it’s a good way to have an adventure.” One compelling summary thought came from a respondent who declared: “I love being able to get outside myself.” [4]

And you? Why do you read? Do you enjoy reading and what is your current read? Tell me in the comments, I’d really like to know.

Ashley from MentalHealth@Home has written ‘Managing the Depression Puzzle’ a holistic view on how to manage depression. From her site: ‘The idea is to give you a bunch of different pieces that you can pick from to put together your own unique  depression puzzle. Topics covered include medications (for both major depressive disorder and bipolar depression), treatments like ECT and TMS, different forms of therapy, activation, mindfulness, and self-care’.

Resources and other reads.

Blog about bibliotherapy. Recommendations for tough times. Loneliness. 

[1] Lutz, C. (1978). “The oldest Library Motto: ψῡχῆς Ἰατρεῖον”. The Library Quarterly. 48 (1). JSTOR 4306897.

[2] Online article ‘Reading fiction improves brain connectivity and function’

[3] Online article: Can reading books improve your mental health?

[4] Online study: The general reading habits of Americans

[5] Online article: Are podcasts the new bibliotherapy?

Picture 1 credits click here.

Picture 2  credits click here.