InformationWhere to get health information online

Where do you get the information you need to support your health? Friends or family? GP or pharmacist? Library books? Google?

In a world of disinformation and fake news, here are some tips on finding safe health information.

Instead of using Google, use trusted sites for example the NHS website, where you can find information and services to help you manage your health.

If you do use Google, think about the information you find, such as:

• Author – who wrote the webpage? Do you trust that person?
• Ownership – e.g. is it an NHS or university webpage? From the UK or elsewhere?
• Potential bias – is the webpage asking for money / selling drugs / offering "cures"?
• Date – can you see how recent the information is?

A good rule of thumb is "If you know how it's made, you can trust what it says". The BBC's news teams use sophisticated tools, techniques and technology to check and verify videos, images and information. You can see their analysis of news stories here: BBC Verify, and the BBC’s investigations into Fake News. You can read more explaining the launch of BBC Verify.

Local public libraries offer lots of resources which encourage wellbeing and self-help, including Reading Well Books on Prescription for Young People, for Dementia and for Adult Mental Health.

There is a national Health Information Week which aims to encourage partnership working across health services and public libraries. This is an annual multi-sector campaign to promote high-quality information for patients and the public.

Disclaimer: If you are worried about specific health issues, please seek professional medical advice.