On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, Libri conducted a non-representative survey on the relationship between books and mental well-being.
Entertaining reads, self-help and psychology books, as well as classic and contemporary literature – these are the types of books Libri’s readers most often turn to in times of stress or personal hardship. According to a non-representative survey conducted by the bookseller among more than 700 respondents, readers find that books primarily help them cope with challenges by offering a form of escape and allowing them to disconnect from everyday life. October 10 marks World Mental Health Day – and this year, Libri aims to highlight the mental health and stress-relief benefits of reading.
Worldwide, more than one billion people suffer from some form of mental illness – meaning that mental health issues affect one in eight individuals. In 1992, the World Federation for Mental Health declared October 10 as World Mental Health Day to raise awareness of the importance of mental well-being and to help break down the social stigma associated with mental illness.
To mark the occasion, Libri set out to explore the role books play in readers’ lives. In early October, the bookseller conducted an online survey examining the connection between reading and mental health, which was completed by more than 700 participants.
The results revealed that nearly 98% of respondents believe books play a role in maintaining mental well-being, and about 94% said reading helps them through stressful or difficult times. The majority also have personal experience in this regard: almost 53% said they often read when facing emotional difficulties, 29.4% said they always do, and nearly 16% said they occasionally turn to books in such situations.
The survey also explored what types of books readers prefer in challenging moments. Three-quarters (74.5%) of respondents said they seek out light, entertaining literature; more than one-third (37.6%) prefer self-help or psychology books; while 34% turn to classic or contemporary fiction.
Libri also asked how books have helped readers in difficult times. 73% said the greatest benefit of reading is that it helps them distance themselves from their current problems, and nearly 56% reported feeling calmer and more relaxed thanks to books. “Books transport us to another world, help us escape from everyday life, and make us forget our problems,” many respondents agreed.
“Our aim with this survey was to understand how natural it is for our readers to turn to books in stressful or crisis situations. We were surprised to see how closely the responses aligned with international research findings. Several studies have shown that reading helps primarily by allowing readers to detach from everyday struggles and identify with literary characters, while it also has measurable physiological effects that reduce stress – meaning that readers genuinely feel more balanced after reading a good book,” said Orsolya Stefanie Ludvig, Libri’s Marketing and Communications Director.
The survey also asked what other stress-relief methods readers use when facing emotional challenges. Almost 60% said talking with friends helps them recharge, while about half cited watching films or series (51.4%) and engaging in sports or physical activity (50.6%). Additionally, 42% said spending time in nature helps them cope. In a crisis situation, nearly one in five respondents (18.4%) said they would consider seeking help from a professional (psychologist or therapist).
Libri’s non-representative online survey was conducted between October 2–7, 2025, with 718 respondents, the majority of whom were women (95%). Nearly one-third (29.5%) were aged 35–44, 26.3% were 25–34, 25.4% were 45–54, and the remaining 18.9% were either 12–24 or over 55. More than half (54.3%) had a university degree, and 34.5% had secondary education. 19.8% of respondents live in Budapest, 34.7% in towns, 24.9% in county capitals, and 20.6% in villages or rural areas.
