How can companies spark a self-care revolution, not only for themselves and their employees, but also for the communities they serve and impact? While people can play their part in embracing healthy lifestyles, companies also have a role to play in fostering a culture where individuals can actively and thoughtfully engage more in their own health and care, in ways they thought they never could. Amid numerous global challenges, such as the persistent burden of disease, there is a compelling need to accelerate innovative approaches in disease management, self-care, prevention, and health promotion. We like to call it the Self-Care Revolution and there is a window of opportunity for companies to spark it.
Self-care is not merely an addendum to healthcare.
Well Partners
The evolving landscape of health and well-being reflects a shift away from viewing health as solely the responsibility of the healthcare sector. Instead, it has become a collective commitment involving various sectors of society. Companies can step more into the role of ‘well’ partners, leveraging their resources, reach, and influence to contribute not only to the well-being of their employees but also to the communities they serve by empowering individuals to prevent diseases in the first place.
Promoting Health
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease. The WHO also states that the future of health must be about promoting health and well-being, not treating disease. The WHO works with Member States and partners to advance well-being as it pertains to global health and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Challenges In Health Promotion
However, this shift is not without challenges. One of the main barriers to health promotion is the lack of awareness and education among individuals and communities. According to a report by Frontiers in Public Health, one of the grand challenges for public health education and promotion is to increase health literacy and empower people to make informed decisions about their health. The report states that “low health literacy is associated with poorer health outcomes, higher health care costs, and increased health inequalities” and that “health literacy is a key determinant of health and a prerequisite for effective health promotion”.
Empower People With Information And Resources
This is where companies can play a pivotal role, by providing accessible and reliable information and resources that empower people to make informed and healthy choices. As companies bring their products and services to the world, coupled with awareness and enhanced educational initiatives, they become powerful agents of change. Beyond products, they play a key role in transforming systems that hinder individual progress, advocating for new policies, laws, and social norms that promote health, well-being, and greater inclusion for all members of society.
Driving Six Categories Of Self-Care
Improving the health and well-being of communities and populations requires a holistic and systemic approach that addresses activities, practices, and products – both medicinal, devices, and nutritive – that a person can adopt to improve their health and well-being. In particular, self-care involves:
- Making healthy lifestyle choices
- Avoiding unhealthy lifestyle habits
- Making responsible use of prescription and non-prescription medicines
- Self-recognition of symptoms
- Self-monitoring
- Self-management
Companies have a role in driving these categories of self-care and creating positive impact for individuals and societies.
Empower Individuals
The essence lies in sparking a self-care revolution—a commitment to well-planned steps, well-informed choices, and fostering a culture of well-being. By focusing on education, awareness, and accessible resources, companies can empower individuals to take control of their well-being, reducing the burden on healthcare systems and paving the way for a healthier, more fulfilled society.
Conclusion: In the pursuit of the Self-Care Revolution, companies are not merely bystanders but active architects of change. By championing empowerment, embracing proactive well-being, and inspiring individual growth, businesses contribute not only to the evolving understanding of health but actively participate in its transformation. The journey towards personal health empowerment and well-being is a collaborative effort, and companies are at the forefront, lighting the way for a healthier and more self-driven existence for all.
