There is also evidence that improved health literacy can: build resilience reduce disease severity improve mental health increase health knowledge improve adherence to medical instruction promote healthy lifestyle changes improve engagement and involvement in health improve confidence and self-esteem empower people to effectively manage long-term conditions At the local level, a targeted approach to improve the health literacy of disadvantaged or vulnerable groups, within a broader strategy to: a) improve the health literacy of health and social care systems, and b) address the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, can therefore contribute to strategies to reduce health inequalities.