This session summarizes factors in health literacy relevant to individuals with serious mental illnesses, including major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. In particular, individuals with serious mental illnesses experience disparate rates of chronic physical illnesses including cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, and infectious diseases. Presenters will review and discuss a major community-based health literacy initiative specifically aimed to address chronic physical health conditions among those with psychiatric illnesses, results of a longitudinal survey, including self-management and other health practices, and methods to implement and sustain these services within integrated community mental health settings. Strategies to improve workforce competencies also will be described.
This year the breakout sessions are categorized by content domains established by the Job Analysis Task Force to describe competencies of a Health Literacy Specialist.
*This is a Community Engagement domain course.