International Self Care Day – Feel Good, 24/7
24 July 2018
Today is International Self Care Day with the theme ‘Feel Good, 24/7’.
Self care refers to the activities individuals, families and communities undertake on their own behalf to prevent disease, enhance health and treat minor illness.
Greater self care results in improved health outcomes and a more cost-effective health care system.
Every day, Australians undertake activities that are defined as self care. The International Self Care Foundation identifies ‘Seven Pillars of Self Care:’
- Knowledge & health literacy
- Mental wellbeing, self-awareness & agency
- Physical activity
- Healthy eating
- Risk avoidance
- Good hygiene
- Rational use of products & services
Taking place on the 24th day of the 7th month each year, and lead by the International Self Care Foundation, International Self Care Day is on a date that symbolises the benefits of self care, which are experienced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That’s why this year’s theme is ‘Feel Good, 24/7,’ because the benefits of self care are life-long and don’t just relate to a single day.
In February, the Australian Health Policy Collaboration released The State of Self Care in Australia, which found that we have a way to go in developing strong policy and practice in relation to self care.
Professor Rosemary Calder AM explains that “the review found that considerable efforts are being made to support better self care throughout the country and there is a multiplicity of sources of information.
Despite this commitment and activity, there is an overall lack of strategic direction to help people navigate the complex boundary between individual and professional responsibilities for health.”
To that end, the Australian Self Medication Industry (ASMI) supports and encourages further discussion, awareness and research on self care in Australia.
International Self Care Day is a great opportunity for all key stakeholders to come together and re-affirm their commitment to prioritising self care as a sustainable health model for consumers, industry and government.
For more on Self Care and to access The State of Self Care in Australia report – asmi.com.au/self-care
For more on International Self Care Day – isfglobal.org/international-self-care-day/