The Health Literacy Alliance rewards innovative approaches to promoting health literacy

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March 7, 2023 12:00 pm ET

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Bern, March 7, 2023. The Health Literacy Alliance supports innovative projects for improving health literacy in Switzerland. To this end, it awards a range of prizes every two years.
The main prize, sponsored by MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme, goes to the project “Ado Academy (Académie des Pairs) of the Ado Association in Fribourg”. The projects “Oral Tumor Therapy” of the Oral Tumor Therapy Association and “Symptom Navi Program (SNP)” of the Swiss Association for the Promotion of Self-Management (VFSM) have been awarded joint first prize for achievement. The second prize for achievement has been awarded to the project “First-aid lessons for mental health in children and adolescents (ensa Teens Pilot)” of Pro Mente Sana.

The health literacy award ceremony was held on March 7, 2023, at the Health Promotion Conference in Bern. An international jury of thirteen experts in the fields of service provision, health policy, public administration, and research selected the following three projects from the dossiers that were submitted:

  • The main prize of CHF 13,000, sponsored by MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme, goes to the project “Ado Academy (Académie des Pairs) of the Ado Association in Fribourg”:
    The main goal of this project is to prevent and reduce risk-taking behavior among peers in the same age group during parties. The measures aim to provide quality guidance to attendees of such events by implementing a range of projects tailored to the needs identified at such events. In particular, the measures have three priorities: event supervision, training for those in charge of prevention, and working together with a network of social-health providers who are committed to specific prevention topics.
    Further information: Association AdO (association-ado.ch)
  • The projects “Oral Tumor Therapy” of the Oral Tumor Therapy Association and “Symptom Navi Program (SNP)” of the Swiss Association for the Promotion of Self-Management (VFSM) have been awarded joint first prize for achievement.
    The “Oral Tumor Therapy” Association develops approaches for specialists to enable their patients to take medication against tumors more effectively in accordance with the prescription. This is intended to strengthen and improve the skills and abilities of patients and caregivers for managing their situation independently, while at the same time improving the individual information and advice that patients receive from their doctors, nursing staff and pharmacists.
    Further information: Oral tumor therapy
  • The “Symptom Navi Program (SNP)” project supports all cancer patients in Switzerland in coping with their illness and the consequences of treatment. It includes symptom fliers for those affected: Information on managing the symptoms of cancer as well as a concept for training specialists, thus supporting collaboration among cancer patients and specialists along the entire care chain.
    Further information: symptomnavi.ch
  • The second prize for achievement goes to the project “First-aid lessons for mental health in children and adolescents (ensa Teens Pilot)” of Pro Mente Sana:
    The mental health first-aid course for teens aims to improve mental health literacy among all teenage groups by reducing stigmatizing behaviors and attitudes that often prevent young people from gaining access to the help and support they may need. Adolescents recognize mental health problems (e.g., depression, anxiety) and mental health crises (e.g., suicidal tendencies, self-harm) among members of their peer group and know how to support each other appropriately by consulting a trusted adult who is trained in providing first aid on mental health issues among young people.
    Further information: ensa – Home

About the Health Literacy Alliance

Health literacy refers to individuals’ ability to make decisions in everyday life that have a positive effect on their health. As a platform, the Health Literacy Alliance connects decision-makers in health care, science, education, politics, business and the media to promote health literacy in Switzerland. It was founded in 2010 by Public Health Switzerland, Gesundheitsförderung Schweiz (Health Promotion Switzerland), the Careum Foundation, the Association of Swiss Physicians FMH, and MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme.

Further information: www.allianz-gesundheitskompetenz.ch

Contact:

Allianz Gesundheitskompetenz

Barbara Weil

C/o FMH, Nussbaumstrasse 29, Postfach 300, 3000 Bern 15

Phone: +41 76 413 63 16, info@allianz-gesundheitskompetenz.ch

CH-NON-02120