Improving Mental and Physical Health through an Integrative Health and Health Literacy Program: The Canyon Ranch Institute Life Enhancement Program

Adults who struggle with depression, stress, and other mental health issues also struggle with adoption and adherence to healthy behaviors that improve or prevent chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. Results from the Canyon Ranch Institute Life Enhancement Program (CRI LEP), a program aimed at low-income communities in the South Bronx, NY; Cleveland, OH; Sullivan County, MO; and Tucson, AZ; demonstrate that an integrative health approach based on best practices of health literacy can improve mental health and physical health, with statistically and clinically significant changes. The CRI LEP includes participatory group sessions, social support, fitness instruction, cooking demonstrations, a nutritionist-guided grocery store trip, and extensive evaluation. Unique components of the CRI LEP are a focus on a person's sense of purpose or spirituality, and at least four individual one-hour one-on-one planning consultations medical, nutrition, behavioral, and fitness professionals. Data collection occurs at pre, post, three-months post, one-year post, and process evaluation stages to evaluate nutrition, physical fitness, knowledge, attitudes, behavior, stress, and a blood serum analysis. Evaluation results of completed groups to date show significant improvements in mental health metrics, including 56% reduction in PHQ-9 depression scores, 44% reduction in stress, 23% increase in self-efficacy scores for taking part in exercise and maintaining healthy nutrition, and a 67% increase in the number of mentally and physically healthy days in the previous month. Evaluation and programming is ongoing; the most up-to-date data available from all locations will be included in the presentation.