Mental health problems are associated with an increased burden of illness. Furthermore, somatic illnesses represent an additional potential problem for people with mental health problems, partly due to increased risk factors and ‘diagnostic overshadowing’. Nevertheless, people with mental disorders seek professional support late or not at all. Promoting health literacy and empowerment are important starting points for promoting health and reducing inequalities in healthcare for people with mental illness. This article explains the concepts of health literacy and empowerment in more detail, presents ways of promoting them in practice and presents a case study. Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in the development of health literacy and empowerment.
CO-CAPTAIN
is at the forefront of this initiative
