Why redefining self-care is the way forward for healthy Canadians

How do you define self-care?

The idea of self-care has become increasingly trendy over the years and is commonly brought up in conversation when mental health, burnout, and caring for our bodies are mentioned.

These are important topics to be aware of, but have you also considered that self-care can go even deeper than that?

Haleon, a global leader in consumer health, is here to reframe how Canadians think about and practice self-care. A quick search of the topic will bring you results about journaling and green juice recipes, and while these are great practices, there is so much more to self-care.

Haleon

Daily Hive sat down with Haleon Canada’s interim General Manager & Vice President of Finance, Patrick Rosettis, to learn about the true impact self-care can have on the world.

“Self-care is health care. Not only can it potentially help Canadians reduce the chance of many illnesses, it can provide them with a way to manage those ailments if they occur or before they worsen,” Rosettis tells us.

Staying proactive

Haleon

According to The World Health Organization (WHO), the working definition of self-care is “the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disabilities, maintain health and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health care provider,” and there are many ways to do that — just ask Rosettis.

By reframing the practice to also include prevention and self-managed care for common ailments like colds, Rosettis says self-care should also be about making healthy choices, treating minor ailments, managing or preventing illness, and in his words, “empowering Canadians to manage their own care.”

Whether that be taking daily multivitamins, making healthier lifestyle choices, or managing pain at home, self-care can be a tool that improves the lives of Canadians, and Haleon is leading the charge.

What’s in your medicine cabinet?

Haleon

Over-the-counter medicines provide Canadians  with affordable, accessible, and effective treatments, targeting ailments like aches and pains, cold symptoms, stomach upset, and tooth sensitivity.

And that’s where Haleon fits in. With a diverse product offering Haleon spans six categories that Canadians trust and rely on: pain relief, oral care, vitamins, wellness, respiratory health, digestive health, and therapeutic skin health.

You probably have some Haleon products in your cupboard right now! These include Advil, Buckley’s, Centrum, Emergen-C, Sensodyne, TUMS, Voltaren, and more.

“Haleon’s core purpose — better everyday health with humanity — is more than a tagline, it’s ingrained in everything we do,” Rosettis shares.

Self-care for global health care

Haleon

Expanding your capacity to manage your own health isn’t only better for you, it can also help lighten the load on the Canadian health-care system, says Rosettis.

Did you know that if just two per cent of Canadians implemented self-care to treat their mild or minor cold symptoms? That would translate to 500,000 more Canadians having access to a family doctor, according to a 2012 study.

There’s also an economic incentive to remove health barriers. Rosettis points out recent findings that Canada could save approximately $7.8 billion USD (approximately $10.7 billion CAD) annually by improving the health literacy rate by 25 per cent, according to the Economist Impact Health Inclusivity Index. That’s real power!

Besides delivering trusted care to millions, Haleon also has its eye on levelling the field in health care access, removing barriers, whether that be social, political, cultural, or personal.

Right now, the focus is on health literacy, where Rosettis says it’s all about “helping people build the knowledge and skill to manage their health, improve their access to health care, and reducing bias and prejudice in health systems.”

Health inclusivity

Haleon

So, how is Haleon doing that? 

In 2024 alone, Haleon donated $2.9 million in product and funds to support the mission of inclusive health care, including a $50,000 scholarship established with the Children’s Aid Foundation Ontario to support students’ education in health and wellness.

The Haleon Health Trailer, in partnership with GlobalMedic, was also launched, improving health literacy with face-to-face healthcare providers and access to over-the-counter medications, free of cost.

By championing a deeper, more inclusive model of self-care, Haleon hopes to help shift the narrative from self-care as a trend to self-care as a lifelong health strategy,” Rosettis shares. It’s that sentiment that sets Haleon apart from other consumer health companies and proves that Haleon is doing the work and going beyond the store shelves.

Ready to revamp your self-care routine? Check out Haleon’s Amazon store pageto shop the full suite of Haleon products in Canada to join the new self-care revolution and prioritize your own health journey!>