October is Health Literacy Month. What exactly is health literacy? According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC): “Personal health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.”
However, statistics show that:
- Nine out of 10 adults struggle to understand and use health information when it is unfamiliar, complex, or jargon-filled.
- Limited health literacy costs the healthcare system money and results in higher than necessary morbidity and mortality.
How can we help?
The Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library is your partner in gaining access to quality health information. Staff can help you navigate the complex array of health information that is available, especially online. Being informed and asking questions can help you make better health choices for you and your family. Separating facts from disinformation is important, and the library can help you find reliable, credible sources for the information you want. From researching ways to prevent chronic disease to finding recipes for a healthier diet, and more, you can find the information you are looking for at the EVPL.
