• In our fast-paced and demanding world, taking the time to prioritise ourselves is more important than ever.
• Self-care is the practice of caring for yourself to ensure that your physical and mental needs are met, and to enhance your quality of life.
• To mark this year’s International Self-Care Day (ISD) on July 24, we shine a spotlight on the Self-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), who are working hard to advance health and wellbeing through self-care.

Self-care is about empowering people to be active agents in their own healthcare. Nurturing our physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing can help us all to achieve a healthy, balanced, and fulfilling life. More than ever, in our fast-paced and demanding world, taking the time to prioritise ourselves is crucial for maintaining overall health and happiness. As well as putting individuals at the centre of their own healthcare, self-care also relieves pressures on health systems.

Self-care isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity, and it’s no coincidence that ISD is on 24 July. This symbolic day was chosen because self-care is encouraged ’24 hours a day/7 days a week’.

Imperial SCARU: Inspiring an evolutionary leap in healthcare

To mark this year’s International Self-Care Day Research Features is excited to showcase the work of SCARU, the Self-Care Academic Research Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London. The first academic unit dedicated to self-care, SCARU is generating evidence and thought leadership around the concept of self-care, and the emerging concept of self-driven healthcare.

Together with collaborators, International Self-Care Foundation and the Self-Care Forum UK, SCARU are exploring the challenges and actions to achieve self-care.

Learn more about their vital work here: Imperial SCARU: Inspiring an evolutionary leap in healthcare.