Self Care Model

Self-Care in Youth and Adolescent Mental Health

Introduction to Self-Care as a Framework Self-care has emerged as a foundational pillar in global health strategy, particularly through the World Health Organization (WHO) and international research institutes such as the Self-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU). It encompasses personal actions individuals take to promote health, prevent disease, and manage minor conditions. Integrating self-care into youth mental health initiatives in schools, homes, and communities offers an effective, cost-conscious, and empowering public health approach.

WHO defines self-care as “the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health provider” (WHO, 2021). For adolescents—who are navigating identity, autonomy, and risk behaviors—self-care education provides essential skills for lifelong well-being.

The Self-Care Matrix: Seven Pillars of Self-Care (SCARU) According to the Self-Care Academic Research Unit (2020), self-care is structured across seven interconnected domains, often referred to as the Self-Care Matrix:

Self-Care Pillar	Description	Youth and School Application	Empirical Support / Reference
Health Literacy	Understanding when, how, and why to seek care and make informed decisions	Mental health literacy programs in schools	Nutbeam (2000); Okan et al. (2018): Strong correlation between health literacy and youth mental health outcomes
Mental Well-being	Emotional resilience, coping, and mindfulness	Social-emotional learning, stress reduction, reflection spaces	Durlak et al. (2011); WHO (2014): SEL enhances academic and emotional outcomes
Physical Activity	Daily movement and exercise	PE, active commuting, fitness programs	Janssen & LeBlanc (2010): Physical activity improves mood and concentration
Healthy Eating	Balanced diet and hydration	School meals, nutrition education, healthy snack policies	WHO (2021): Direct impact on cognitive performance and behavior
Risk Avoidance	Avoiding harmful behaviors (e.g., drugs, violence, self-harm)	Peer-led workshops, digital safety education, roleplay	Patton et al. (2016): Self-care protects against high-risk behavior during adolescence
Good Hygiene	Personal cleanliness and public health habits	Handwashing, menstrual hygiene, dental care, cleanliness campaigns	Curtis et al. (2011): School hygiene practices reduce infection and absenteeism
Rational Use of Health	Responsible use of medicines, digital health, and community resources	Signposting youth to school counselors, GPs, mental health apps	WHO (2018): Self-navigation reduces healthcare burden and improves early intervention outcomes

3. Self-Care and Cost-Effectiveness: The 'Reverse Cost Curve' Model WHO and global health economists describe a reverse cost-effectiveness curve for self-care. Intervening at primary and preventive levels (e.g., in schools, homes, and churches) delivers the highest long-term return, both financially and in improved health outcomes. Conversely, delaying intervention until tertiary care (e.g., psychiatric hospitalization) leads to dramatically increased costs and worse outcomes.

Visual Summary: Reverse Cost Curve Model

• Primary (Low Cost, High Impact): Education, prevention, lifestyle habits, emotional resilience

• Secondary (Moderate Cost): Early detection, school-based screening, brief interventions

• Tertiary (High Cost): Crisis care, hospitalization, long-term clinical support

This model affirms that early self-care promotion in adolescence—especially through whole-school and faith-based models—can reduce future healthcare costs and improve mental health trajectories (WHO, 2021; Linstone & Mitroff, 2016).

4. Integration into Holistic Youth Mental Health Models Self-care is not an isolated activity—it is deeply connected to holistic well-being. Each domain of the self-care matrix overlaps with one or more of the eight dimensions of holistic wellness. Together, these frameworks can:

• Empower adolescents to take proactive responsibility for their health

• Provide cost-effective mental health promotion tools

• Facilitate school-home-community-FBO collaboration

Synergy in Action Example:

Self-Care Pillar	Related Wellness Domain	Intervention Example
Mental Well-being	Emotional + Spiritual	Guided journaling and mindfulness in school chapel
Health Literacy	Intellectual + Social	Youth peer-led mental health clubs
Risk Avoidance	Environmental + Occupational	Digital wellbeing curriculum in IT classes

Conclusion: Why This Matters for Your Research Positioning self-care as a core theoretical framework for adolescent mental health aligns with global public health priorities, biblical principles of stewardship, and practical realities in education and faith contexts. Its empirical basis, cost-effectiveness, and adaptability make it a powerful complement to holistic well-being and spiritual transformation models.

References (APA 7th edition – extended)

• Curtis, V., et al. (2011). Hygiene: New hopes, new horizons. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 11(4), 312–321.

• Durlak, J. A., et al. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta‐analysis. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432.

• Janssen, I., & LeBlanc, A. G. (2010). Systematic review of physical activity and health in school-aged children and youth. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 7(1), 40.

• Linstone, H. A., & Mitroff, I. I. (2016). The Challenge of Self-Care in Public Health Systems. Springer.

• Nutbeam, D. (2000). Health literacy as a public health goal. Health Promotion International, 15(3), 259–267.

• Okan, O., et al. (2018). The importance of health literacy in early adolescence. BMC Public Health, 18(1), 1–9.

• Patton, G. C., et al. (2016). Our future: A Lancet commission on adolescent health and well-being. The Lancet, 387(10036), 2423–2478.

• Self-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU). (2020). The Self-Care Matrix Framework. Imperial College London.

• World Health Organization. (2018). WHO guideline on self-care interventions for health and well-being.

• World Health Organization. (2021). Self-care interventions for health: A consolidated guideline.