A new Otago Access Radio show is promoting access to reliable, evidence-based self-help health resources.
Listen Yourself Well is presented by Sophie Carty and Rebecca Llewellyn, members of WellSouth Primary Health Network’s health promotion team whose role it is to take a preventative and proactive approach to the health needs of the people of Otago and Southland.
Rebecca said the radio show took inspiration from WellSouth’s Books On Prescription programme, which launched in Central Otago libraries in 2011 as a collection of self-help books that could be prescribed by GPs, counsellors and other health professionals to patients who “needed a little bit of extra support”.
“This year, we expanded, rebranded and relaunched the programme with three streams. We have books, which you can get from a library, audio-visual resources available online, and apps for digital devices. You can now read, listen and tap yourself well.”
The books, podcasts and apps covered a wide range of health topics, from depression and anxiety to diabetes and heart disease, as well as “lifestyle” resources that addressed breastfeeding, food choices, relationships, alcohol and smoking.
Each episode of Listen Yourself Well would highlight an item from the WellSouth collection, all of which had been reviewed and recommended by experts in the relevant field. Interviews with health professionals would add specialist knowledge and a local context.
Sophie said the aim was to encourage listeners to see that the healthier choice was often the easier choice.
“We hope the show will be an interesting and informative look at a range of physical and mental health issues, and the resources, services and community-based initiatives that exist to support people with mild-to-moderate health problems.
“Health is much more than what you do as an individual. It’s about your family, whanau and wider social networks.”
Listen Yourself Well airs Thursdays at 1pm and Saturdays at 12.30pm on OAR 105.4FM and 1575AM, and live and podcast from www.oar.org.nz and iTunes.
Photo: The healthy choice: WellSouth’s Rebecca Llewellyn (left) and Sophie Carty host Otago Access Radio show Listen Yourself Well.