Mental‑health disorders and suicide rates have risen steadily over the past 20 years, with rural areas seeing the sharpest increases. To broaden access to mental‑health resources for adults, physicians placed a little free library containing 10–15 books on anxiety, depression, post‑traumatic stress disorder, and related conditions near the entrance of a rural primary care clinic in Minnesota. A flyer with a QR code directs visitors to a community‑run webpage with additional resources. Patients who take a book are asked to complete a short survey capturing demographics, referral source, and the usefulness of the materials. The authors are still studying the intervention's utility and impact. This low cost, patient-centered, community-informed innovation can be adopted by other primary care and community settings.
Using a Little Free Library to Improve Access to Mental Health and Wellness Resources at a Primary Care Clinic
Marijo Botten, DO, and Erin Westfall, DO
Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Residency, Mankato, Minnesota
