The International Self-Care Day campaign objective is to explain to all stakeholders -- the public, healthcare professionals, the media and health officials, the importance of self-care in health care and encourage the general public to practice self-care.

Society benefits from the people who practice self-care and who do not visit health professionals unnecessarily. Self-care helps people stay well and prevent chronic non-communicable diseases, thus relieving pressure on a country’s healthcare system.

Every year, International Self-Care Day is held on 24 July (24/7), a date which symbolises how the benefits of self-care are experienced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, individual countries and organisations may choose to run their National Self-Care Day (or week, or month…) campaign on a date that best suits their individual calendar.

Material is available for WSMI members and others to support the organization and promotion of International Self-Care Days. Click here for the Self-Care Day Toolkit.

Below are the highlights and reports of some International Self-Care Day activities.

• First International Self-Care Day, 24 July 2011: “Self-Care, feel good 24/7”
    

Designed in China, the logo for the first Self-Care day campaign represents a dynamic and healthy running person with a positive upward movement of the arms in sign of openness, kindness and care. The head of the figure is represented by a globe showing the international dimension of the “International Self-Care Day”. The two crossed red and blue ribbons are in the shape of an “S” and a “C” standing for “Self-Care”. In the Chinese culture, red is seen as the color of blood, indicating enthusiasm, energy and health while blue indicates purity, clarity and peace of mind. Altogether, the logo symbolizes the promise of self-care for a healthier, happier world.

View the report and video of China’s First International Self-Care Day

View the report and material of Canada’s First International Self-Care Week

View the report and material of the United-Kingdom’s 2011 campaign