Mental Health Literacy: Social Work's Role in Improving Public Mental Health

Abstract

NASW (2008) has identified universal access to health and mental health care as one of social work's top priorities. National and international initiatives to improve health literacy among the general public are congruent with NASW's goal. Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand health information and services that are needed to make appropriate health decisions (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], 2000). Low levels of health literacy contribute to worse health outcomes, including increased incidence of chronic illness and less than optimal use of preventive services; yet interventions to address low literacy show promise for improving individual health and receipt of health care services (Berkman et al., 2004). Recognition of the impact of health literacy on public health in the United States has led to national goals, initiatives, and plans to improve health literacy nationwide (HHS, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion 2010a, 2010b). Yet mental health literacy has largely been excluded in these efforts.