By Ebony Lindsay
Reading is a known coping mechanism to help treat varieties of mental health crises; like exercise, eating well and simply going outside. These types of approaches are supported by many but ignored by some.
A University of Sussex study showed reading can reduce stress by 68 per cent while an Australia Reads survey reported 23 per cent of people find comfort in reading when they find their own struggles on the page.
So why is psychologist Renee Ferris, unlike the many studies that support such a topic, so unsure about reading despite its overwhelming positivity?
Ferris explained that while reading is “‘theoretically so good”, there’s only a certain number of people who come to her office that actually have a background interest in reading.
Without that background interest, she said, offering reading as a mechanism often “just sounds patronising” because they lack the “level of interest or motivation”.
Ferris said that if they do have this interest already, reading is a broad coping mechanism but can be dangerous if overdone. Reading too much can cause “social isolation” such as “escapism” or “obsession”.
But the question raises itself, how much is too much?
Well, in research, there is no exact time limit classified as “too much”, although it’s recommended by various websites to ensure the amount of time in your day you dedicate to reading isn’t affecting your general life.
Despites her concerns, Ferris does explain her appreciation for reading if done safely and responsibly.
“It can be good for anything for the right person who has a level of interest or motivation.”
She said she would only recommend it, “when I notice a window of possibility”.
Featured image: Not everyone struggling with their mental health benefits from opening a book. Photo: Anya/CC/Pexels
