Libraries urged to use NNLM toolkits, book clubs and pet-therapy templates for Mental Health Awareness

Nick Barrett, user experience and education strategist for the Network of the National Library of Medicine Region 2, offered practical programming ideas libraries can use around awareness days or months.

Barrett recommended both active events (pet therapy, therapy rabbits, story times with certified therapy animals, yoga or tai chi sessions) and passive outreach (displays, QR-code bookmarks, flyers) to reach patrons who may not ask for help directly. He said book discussions can help open difficult conversations and pointed attendees to the NNLM book-club page, which provides discussion guides, posters and social-media captions for featured titles.

For more structured programming Barrett demonstrated the American Library Association’s Programming Librarian templates and a sample program called a 'Mental Health Series' that includes marketing materials, budgets, day-of activities and downloadable PDFs. He pointed to SAMHSA’s Observance Digital Toolkit as a quick source of sharable social posts and images laid out by week for a five-week campaign.

Barrett encouraged libraries without on-site clinical staff to partner with local clinics, social-work students or university programs to provide in-person support or monthly resource tables. He repeatedly emphasized adapting templates to local context and reminded attendees to verify logistics and any legal or institutional restrictions before offering animal-therapy or clinical partnership events.

The session closed with attendees exchanging examples of successful programming (therapy dogs, reading with animals, stress-relief activities during finals) and Barrett offering to share links and sign-up information for NNLM trainings.