October is Health Literacy Month—a time to raise awareness about the importance of understanding and using health information in our everyday lives.
Health literacy helps us make informed choices, from what we eat, to how we care for our mental health, to when we seek medical help. It’s about turning awareness into action and creating more equitable, accessible healthcare for everyone.
Health literacy is more than just medical terms—it’s knowing how to access, understand, and use information to make decisions that affect your health and well-being. Research shows that health literacy is one of the strongest predictors of overall health—even more than income, education level, or race.
How to Identify Reliable Health Information
The internet can be a great tool for learning about your health — but not all online information is accurate or safe to follow. That’s why digital health literacy is so important. It means knowing how to find, evaluate, and use reliable health information online to make good decisions for yourself and your family.
Here are a few ways to tell if what you’re reading online is trustworthy:
- Check the source. Reliable sites often end in .gov, .edu, or .org (like HealthLink BC).
- Look for credentials. Articles written or reviewed by doctors, nurses, or health professionals are more reliable.
- Avoid extreme claims. Be cautious of “miracle cures” or posts trying to sell a product as the only solution.
- Check the date. Medical information changes often — make sure what you’re reading is current.
- Compare multiple sources. Don’t rely on one site; check what other credible organizations say.
Why It Matters
Health misinformation can spread quickly online, especially on social media. Learning how to spot accurate information protects you and your loved ones — and helps you make confident choices about your health.
Resources for Reliable Health Information
Digital health literacy gives you the tools and skills to be well informed about health in today’s online world. By learning to recognize trustworthy sources, you can make better decisions, avoid misinformation, and support your well-being with confidence.