Self-care literacy policy impact

In our fast-paced world filled with responsibilities, obligations, and constant stimuli, taking care of ourselves often takes a backseat. However, self-care is not just about occasional indulgences or pampering; it's a fundamental aspect of maintaining our physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

“Self-care is the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote their own health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health worker.

Self-care interventions promote individuals’ active participation in their own healthcare and are a push towards greater self-determination, self-efficacy, autonomy, and engagement in health.

Interestingly, self-care literacy is also increasingly becoming a corporate, societal and political priority. Therefore, it is my great pleasure to join conversations with relevant stakeholders in the European Parliament, industry and patient organizations on how to develop and promote self-care literacy. Here are some of the insights and lessons learned.

What is self-care literacy?

Self-care literacy refers to the knowledge, motivation and competencies of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, and maintain health and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider. It involves understanding the importance of self-care, recognizing individual needs and boundaries, and actively engaging in practices that promote health and well-being.

People with strong self-care literacy skills often enjoy better health and well-being, while those with weaker skills tend to engage in riskier behavior and have poorer health.

Essentially, self-care literacy empowers individuals to take proactive steps to maintain their physical, emotional, and mental health in the face of life's challenges.

Self-care literacy policy and impact

Increasing self-care at a societal level requires a multifaceted approach that involves policy interventions aimed at promoting awareness, accessibility, and support for self-care practices. Here are some examples on how to enhance self-care literacy:

1. Integration into health systems: Policy efforts can focus on integrating self-care into healthcare systems at all levels, from primary care to public health initiatives. This includes incorporating self-care education into school curriculums, providing training for healthcare professionals on promoting self-care practices, and integrating self-care assessments and interventions into routine healthcare visits.
2. Health education and promotion: Governments can implement policies to promote health literacy and raise awareness about the importance of self-care through public health campaigns, educational programs, and media campaigns. These initiatives should emphasize the benefits of self-care, provide information on self-care practices, and empower individuals to take proactive steps to improve their health and well-being.
3. Access to resources and services: Policy efforts should ensure equitable access to resources and services that support self-care, particularly for marginalized and underserved populations. This may include subsidizing the cost of self-care products and services, expanding access to preventive healthcare services, and addressing barriers such as transportation, language, and cultural differences.
4. Workplace well-being programmes: Governments and corporate partners can encourage employers to implement well-being programmes at work that prioritize self-care and health in families and communities This may include offering flexible work arrangements, providing access to health and well-being resources and programs, and promoting a supportive organizational culture that values employee well-being.
5. Regulation and standards: Policymakers can establish regulations and standards to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of self-care products and services. This may involve implementing guidelines for product labeling and advertising, regulating the qualifications and training of self-care practitioners, and monitoring the marketing and promotion of self-care interventions.
6. Research and evaluation: Governments can allocate funding for research on self-care practices and interventions to better understand their effectiveness, safety, and impact on health outcomes. This research can inform policy decisions and guide the development of evidence-based strategies to promote self-care at the population level.
7. Community engagement and collaboration: Policymakers should facilitate collaboration between government agencies, healthcare providers, community organizations, and other stakeholders to develop comprehensive approaches to promoting self-care. This may involve establishing partnerships to deliver self-care programs, leveraging community resources, and engaging with local stakeholders to identify and address barriers to self-care.
8. Health literate schools: Health literacy can be an independent subject in schools similarly to biology, geography, mathematics and languages. It requires a new form of teacher training to teach health and well-being from a holistic point of view focusing on physical, social, mental and emotional aspects of health instead of primarily from a biological point of view.

By implementing these policy measures, governments and other relevant stakeholders can create an enabling environment that supports and encourages self-care practices, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes and enhanced well-being for individuals and communities.

Concluding remarks

Health literacy is not just a luxury; it's a necessity for maintaining our health, happiness, and overall quality of life. By prioritizing self-care and enhancing our self-care literacy politically, we empower ourselves and the societies we live in to facilitate and promote health and well-being for all.

Thanks for your efforts.

Kristine S?rensen ??

Global Health Literacy Academy

Check out this resource for more information which I developed with the Global Self-Care Federation: Self-care literacy: empowering people, organizations, and systems to maintain and promote self-care for health and well-being.

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