A national opportunity to empower communities for better health
Each year, hundreds of organisations across the country take part in National Self-Care Week (17-23 November 2025), a campaign designed to inspire and empower people to take charge of their own physical and mental wellbeing.
Led by the Self Care Forum, it’s an awareness week that everyone, individuals, schools, employers, local authorities, healthcare professionals, and more, can get involved in.
The aim is simple but powerful: help people take control of their health and live happier, healthier, lives for longer, while easing growing pressures on our health services.
As Self-Care Week approaches, now is the perfect time to reflect on why such initiatives matter more than ever.
According to The King’s Fund, a leading health charity committed to improving health and care across the UK, demand for health services has risen significantly in recent years and continues to climb.
The reasons are complex. As life expectancy rises, people are living longer, but not necessarily healthier, lives. Many are managing multiple long-term conditions including diabetes, cancer, frailty, and dementia.
Yet access to timely support remains challenging. Without adequate community services, many in crisis are turning to A&E services, adding further strain to an already stretched system.
While investment in health services is vital, prevention and self-management must be the central pillars of any broader approach to health and wellbeing.
A common endeavour
The Government’s own 10 Year Health Plan for the NHS mirrors these ambitions with its three health shifts, of which two - ‘from hospital to community’ and ‘from sickness to prevention’ - have much in common with the ethos we have long espoused.
While it’s not a silver bullet, the Self-Care Forum believes empowering individuals to take better care of themselves, physically and mentally, is a vital part of the solution.
Many chronic, non-communicable conditions such as heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers are preventable with the right support, education, and lifestyle changes.
Preventing these through better public health campaigns, improved access to healthy food, and more opportunities for physical activity has a potentially massive impact on the overall health of the population and the impact on health and care services.
Beyond this, the Self-Care Forum has long advocated for stronger health education in schools, giving children lifelong tools to take home and share with their families.
Self-care isn’t just about individuals making better choices. It’s about creating environments and systems that support those choices, united by a shared responsibility. Everyone has a role to play.
One week with long term benefits
Self-Care Week is a unique opportunity to bring all these stakeholders together under a shared goal: improving the nation’s health.
The week serves as a catalyst, but the goal is long-term change. By raising awareness and offering practical tools and resources, Self-Care Week encourages people to take control of their health, not just for one week, but for the rest of their lives.
There’s still time to get involved. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, local business, teacher, or an individual who wants to make a difference, this is your chance to join a growing movement for better health and wellbeing.
Let’s work together to support a healthier future, one where people feel informed, empowered, and able to make choices that not only benefit themselves but also alleviate pressure on our NHS.
Because when self-care becomes a way of life, everyone benefits.
Find out more
The Self-Care Forum has run Self-Care Week since 2011.
For more information contact selfcare@selfcareforum.org.
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