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Empowering Health Through Self-Care
We are dedicated to creating a world where self-care empowers individuals, families, and communities to manage their health and prevent diseases, with or without the support of a healthcare provider.
The Self-care is healthcare Campaign
Our campaign aims to raise awareness and recognition of the potential of self-care on a global scale. We firmly believe that everyone benefits from a greater choice of healthcare options and more accessible pathways to care. There is an urgent need for action from policymakers and health leaders to embrace self-care as a critical component of healthcare systems worldwide, ensuring it is fully integrated into national health policies. That’s why we want to create a movement to unite individuals, communities, and stakeholders around a common goal, amplifying our voices and increasing our impact. By fostering a collective effort, we can drive systemic change, promote widespread adoption of self-care practices, and ensure that self-care becomes a fundamental part of healthcare systems globally.
Introducing the #SelfCareIs movement
The #SelfCareIs movement aims to inform and educate about the vital connection between self-care and healthcare.
By doing this, we aim to demonstrate the importance of self-care and its contribution to healthcare, encouraging everyone to become active agents in their own health and to inspire others to do the same. We encourage members and campaigners to share relevant self-care practices and tag their local policymakers and healthcare providers to highlight the urgent need to embed self-care as a key part of the healthcare delivery continuum.
Only by reaching policymakers and healthcare providers can we ensure that any barriers are lifted. Together, we can advocate for the integration of self-care into national health systems worldwide.
Campaign materials
By committing to a specific self-care action, you will join a community of like-minded individuals dedicated to improving their own lives and the lives of others. Your participation supports a broader healthcare campaign aimed at enhancing health and well-being globally.
Show your support this International Self-Care Day and Month by downloading and utilising the materials provided below.
Use the hashtag #SelfCareIs in your social media posts to spread the message and connect with others.
Additionally, consider sharing the infographic with your local policymakers to advocate for the integration of self-care into local health systems. Together, we can make a difference and promote the importance of self-care as a vital component of healthcare.
Self-care Quiz
Think you know your stuff when it comes to self-care? Why not put your knowledge to the test with our self-care quiz!
Results
#1. When was the concept of ‘self-care’ first recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO)?
Answer: B. The concept of self-care was first recognised by WHO in 1983.
#2. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), how is self-care best defined?
Answer: B. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines self care as ‘the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without healthcare provider support’
#3. Which of these is NOT one of the seven pillars of self-care, according to the International Self-Care Foundation and SCARU?
Answer: D. The seven pillars of self-care promote well-being by guiding individuals toward a healthier, more vibrant lifestyle. They are knowledge and health literacy; mental wellbeing; physical activity; healthy eating’ good hygience and rational use of products and services.
Following the seven pillars of self-care leads to improved health, significant savings in healthcare costs, and enhanced productivity.
#4. Which of the following best defines a non-communicable disease (NCD)?
Answer: C. A non-infectious, chronic condition resulting from a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors, and typically of long duration and slow progression.
#5. What percentage of global deaths are attributed to non-communicable diseases (NCDs)?
Answer: C. According to the WHO, non-communicable diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer, cause 76% of global deaths, and their burden has grown at around 1% year-over-year for the last 30 years. Many of these deaths could be preventable through self-care practices and healthier lifestyle choices.
#6. Which of the following is NOT considered a non-communicable disease (NCD)?
Answer: C. Influenza is a communicable disease because it is caused by a virus that spreads between people. The others – type 2 diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and cardiovascular disease – are all examples of NCDs.
#7. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), which of these is NOT a major risk factor for non-communicable disease?
Answer: C. Regular physical activity is actually a protective factor rather than a risk factor for NCDs. WHO identifies five primary modifiable risk factors that increase NCD risk: tobacco use, unhealthy diet, harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity, and exposure to air pollution.
#8. How many times per day is it recommended to brush your teeth to maintain good oral health?
Answer: B. Brushing your teeth twice a day with toothpaste, flossing daily, and regular dental check-ups are proven habits that reduce the risk of oral disease and its link to systemic health conditions.
#9. What is the estimated percentage reduction in risk of heart attack one year after quitting smoking?
Answer: C. After 1 year, the reported risk of heart attack halves when compared to a smoker. And, after 15 years, the risk of a heart attack falls to the same as someone who has never smoked.
#10. What is the total estimated economic cost of the five leading NCDs projected between 2010–2030?
Answer: B. In total the five leading NCDs – CVD, chronic respiratory disease, cancer, diabetes and mental health conditions – have been estimated to cost $47 trillion between 2010-2030, an average of more than $2 trillion per year.
