SorintWellness- October is Health Literacy Month
What Exactly is Health Literacy?
Health literacy includes a few key skills, and no, you don’t need a medical degree to master them! Here’s a quick breakdown:
Reading and Understanding: You can read that prescription bottle, but do you know what it means? Health literacy helps you make sense of the fine print.
Talking it Out: It’s about being confident when you visit the doctor, asking the right questions, and understanding the answers (without all the medical mumbo jumbo).
Making Decisions: Knowing what’s best for your health—like whether you really need that antibiotic or if that new fad diet is worth trying.
Navigating Health Systems: Ever tried to make sense of health insurance paperwork? With good health literacy, that becomes a lot easier.
Understanding Numbers: Whether it’s your blood pressure, cholesterol, or even BMI, numeracy skills help you keep track of your health stats.
Health literacy isn’t just about reading doctor’s notes or figuring out a food label—it’s about understanding and using health information to live better, both at home and at work. Imagine it as the toolkit everyone needs to navigate their health, make smart decisions, and feel more empowered in their well-being. For employees, having high health literacy can mean fewer sick days, less stress, and overall better performance.
October isn't just Health Literacy Month. Breast Cancer Awareness Month, observed every October, is a global campaign to raise awareness about breast cancer, its early detection, and the importance of research and support for those affected. It encourages individuals to get regular screenings and promotes education on risk factors, symptoms, and prevention strategies. The month is marked by various events, such as fundraisers and wearing pink ribbons, to show solidarity with survivors and those currently battling the disease. The goal is to increase awareness and ultimately save lives through early intervention and medical advances.
SorintWellness is starting the month with a company-wide campaign to 'Wear Pink!' in support of breast cancer research.
On Thursday, October 10th, we're asking all of our employees (men and women) to wear pink to the office (on-site or at home) and to take a selfie to send to sorintwellness@sorint.com. We'll share a collage of photos later in the month. Sorint will also make a donation to a local breast cancer research organization in Bergamo called Amiche Per Mano.
Next up, we've got a quick Health Literacy Quiz—a fun way to assess how much you know (or don’t know!) about everyday health topics. Later in the month, we'll introduce a new English-based podcast series in collaboration with the Global Academia sircle. In our first episode, we'll be talking to a health literacy professional based in the USA. Sorintians can tune in during their commute or lunch break to practice listening in English and to learn some health tips. And to wrap things up in style, why not celebrate the learning journey with a company-sponsored lunch at the end of the month? It's a great opportunity for employees to connect in the office.
Keep an eye out on our SorintWellness channel for all of these initiatives. And if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at sorintwellness@sorint.com.