24 July marks International Self‑Care Day — a reminder that self‑care matters every hour of every day. But our BMJ Open research shows self‑care isn’t just an individual responsibility; it’s a system‑wide duty that must be embedded into policy, professional practice and everyday conversations.
What is happening in the UK?
Our Living Self‑Care Survey Study shows strong willingness but weak support:
- 88.5% feel confident maintaining a healthy lifestyle
- 91.9% feel confident managing common illnesses
- Yet 51.4% struggle to evaluate treatment options
- 43.6% find mental health information hard to access
- 28.1% find it difficult to interpret screening information
“These findings show people want to self‑care but are not fully supported to do so,” says Dr Pete Smith, Self‑Care Forum President and lead author of the study. “Health literacy remains one of the biggest barriers — and one we must urgently address.”
Healthcare professionals echo this gap, citing patient reluctance (64.8%), poor understanding of self‑care (59.0%) and health literacy challenges (45.8%).
Nutrition for Wellbeing 24/7
Healthy eating is this year’s theme for International Self‑Care Day. And while our research shows people feel confident maintaining a healthy lifestyle, many struggle to interpret screening information. This means that when health information — including nutrition guidance — becomes more technical or complex, people can find it harder to navigate and act on.
“Good nutrition is one of the most powerful ways people can support their own health,” says Helen Donovan, Chair of the Self‑Care Forum. “But they need clear, consistent information to feel confident doing so.”
Behaviour Change Matters
Trevor Gore, Self‑Care Forum Trustee and behavioural science expert, points out that turning intention into action requires supportive environments, not just advice.
“As a nation, we’re not short on motivation — we’re short on the right conditions for behaviour change,” he says. “If we want people to make healthier choices, we must make those choices easier, clearer and more accessible in everyday life. We must reduce the friction that stops people being able to self‑care.”
A Self-Care Forum Resource to Help
Our POWER of Self‑Care framework supports people to:
- Prevent illness
- Observe changes
- Work with professionals
- Engage with reliable information
- Respond to symptoms
It directly addresses the gaps highlighted in our research — especially the need for clearer information and stronger professional encouragement.
A Call to Action
The UK public is ready to self‑care. They just need better support.
On 24 July, we call on professionals, policymakers and community organisations to:
- Strengthen public confidence
- Improve access to reliable health information
- Embed self‑care into everyday practice
Self‑care is a 24/7 commitment to better health.
