Taking control of your Health
Building confidence to understand health and take control of wellbeing
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The project partners were:
Kildare Library and Arts Services
EVE/HSE Larine
About this project
Many people find it hard to understand health information or feel confident speaking to healthcare providers. This can make it more difficult to manage their health and wellbeing. People living with mental health difficulties can experience additional challenges in accessing and using health information.
This project aimed to support adults with mental health difficulties to better understand their health and build confidence in managing it. The project brought together Kildare Library and Arts Services and EVE/HSE Larine to design and deliver a health literacy programme that was easy to use.
More about this project
This project delivered a short course using simple language, visual aids and interactive activities. It focused on building confidence and helping people develop skills they can use in everyday situations.
Participants learned how to:
ask questions and prepare for healthcare appointments,
communicate with healthcare professionals,
understand the role of diet and wellbeing, and
find and use reliable health information online.
A key output of the project was a pocket-sized health booklet. This booklet includes:
space to record personal details and medications,
prompts for questions before and after appointments,
a calendar to track appointments, and
space to write down important health information.
The course also included discussion, role play and input from a guest speaker. This helped participants practise skills and build confidence in a safe and supportive environment.
Twelve learners took part in the programme, with high attendance and strong engagement throughout. Participants reported feeling more informed, more confident and better able to take control of their health.
The project showed that using clear language and practical tools can make a real difference. There is strong potential to deliver this programme again and to roll it out across other services and communities.