如果你曾经在阅读某个悲剧故事或优美诗篇的过程中深受触动，那么你可能会同意文字能够对我们的心理和情感造成深刻影响的说法。实际上，一些先前的研究已经证明指导人们 "self-help（自我帮助）" 的书籍能够对心理健康产生积极的作用。而现在，越来越多的人认为阅读虚构文学也能带来类似的效果。本文浅谈阅读书籍对心理健康的作用。

词汇：bibliotherapy 阅读疗法

1 "It opened up something in me that needed to be opened and needed to heal," says Elizabeth Russell, a teacher and librarian from the US state of Connecticut. She was going through a rough patch in life when she found bibliotherapy. Bibliotherapy is the use of literature to support people with mental health and wellbeing issues. The benefits of non-fiction, self-help books are well documented – results from 'A meta‐analysis of bibliotherapy studies' suggest this type of bibliotherapy can help with conditions such as anxiety and depression – but what about fiction?

2 'Creative bibliotherapy' may have similar advantages. Ella Berthoud, well-known bibliotherapist and author of The Novel Cure calls it 'the art of prescribing fiction for life's ailments'. But how does it work? If you were to go to Ella for help, she'd start with a consultation. Then, she says, "I will guide you to books that put a finger on feelings you may often have had, but perhaps never clearly understood before." Proponents of creative bibliotherapy say that immersing oneself in a good book can help readers process emotions, discover coping strategies or even just provide some escapism from life's stresses.

3 But some experts worry the benefits of creative bibliotherapy are overhyped. Studies suggest reading may improve things such as empathy and self-confidence, but in terms of treating specific mental health conditions, the evidence is weak. Some stories may even cause harm, particularly if they trigger or reinforce the negative feelings someone wants to escape. It seems bibliotherapy is best used in conjunction with other therapies, rather than as a substitute.

4 In the UK, the Reading Agency's Reading Well programme helps people manage their health and wellbeing with books. The books are recommended by health experts and people with lived experience of the topics covered. But, the organisation's head of health and wellbeing, Gemma Jolly, understands that it's "not a one size fits all." She says, "It's about having an additional tool that might work for some people." Will you give bibliotherapy a go?

测验与练习

一、根据文章内容选出正确的段落。

Which paragraph contains an example of a bibliotherapy organisation?

二、根据文章内容选出正确的选项。

1. In paragraph 1, what does 'it' refer to in the following sentence? "It opened up something in me that needed to be opened and needed to heal".
a. bibliotherapy
b. mental health
c. depression

2. Bibliotherapy only makes use of non-fiction literature.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

3. There is evidence that creative bibliotherapy improves…
a. empathy
b. mental health conditions
c. both

4. Creative bibliotherapy may be harmful.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

5. Which sentence summarises Gemma Jolly's view of bibliotherapy?
a. People should try books recommended by people who have had similar lived experience.
b. Most people can manage their mental health with books.
c. There's no single solution that works for everyone.

三、用下列单词完成对本文的总结。

There is evidence to suggest 1) ________ books can help people with their mental health. Creative bibliotherapists are now saying fiction may help us 2) ________ with our problems too. So, if you're going through a 3) ________, why not 4) ________? Although experts warn that the benefits may be 5) ________.

cope
overhyped
give it a go
self-help
ailments
one size fits all
rough patch

（答案见词汇表后）

词汇表

rough patch 艰难的时期
non-fiction 非虚构的
self-help 自我帮助的
fiction 虚构的
prescribe 给…开（药），开处方
ailment 病痛，伤痛
consultation 咨询
put a finger on 明确地指出
immerse oneself 将自己沉浸于…之中
cope 应对
escapism 逃避现实
overhyped 过度炒作的
trigger 引起，触发
reinforce 加强，强化
in conjunction 联同，协同
one size fits all 一刀切的解决方法
give something a go 尝试做某事

答案

一、根据文章内容选出正确的段落。

Paragraph 4. In the UK, the Reading Agency's Reading Well programme helps people manage their health and wellbeing with books.

二 、根据文章内容选出正确的选项。

1. a. She was going through a rough patch in life when she found bibliotherapy.

2. b. False. There are two types: bibliotherapy with non-fiction, self-help books, and 'creative bibliotherapy' which uses fiction.

3. a. Studies suggest reading may improve things such as empathy and self-confidence, but in terms of treating specific mental health conditions, the evidence is weak.

4. a. True. Some stories may even cause harm, particularly if they trigger or reinforce the negative feelings someone wants to escape.

5. c. Gemma Jolly understands that it's "not a one size fits all."

三、用下列单词完成对本文的总结。

There is evidence to suggest self-help books can help people with their mental health. Creative bibliotherapists are now saying fiction may help us cope with our problems too. So, if you're going through a rough patch, why not give it a go? Although experts warn that the benefits may be overhyped.