Every July 24, the world marks International Self-Care Day. Our social media feeds are filled with the usual self-care advice: take a bath, light a candle, book a massage, say no to plans. None of that is wrong. But if your idea of self-care begins and ends there, you are missing the part that does the heaviest lifting. Because self-care was never meant to be something you do alone.
This International Self-Care Day, we’re here to remind you that community care is an essential part of self-care.
Self-care was never a solo project
Here is the piece the candle ads leave out: humans are wired for connection. Our nervous systems settle when we feel we belong. The research keeps landing in the same place — strong social ties are one of the biggest predictors of long-term mental and physical health. Chronic loneliness is a health crisis; in fact, social isolation is often described as being as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. So when the world tells you self-care means retreating from everyone, it is only telling you half the story. Rest matters. Boundaries matter. And so does the opposite of isolation.
This is not a new idea. People who do emotionally demanding work, from caregivers to activists and organizers, have long leaned on “collective care” precisely because solo self-care runs out.
That is what community care is. It is the version of self-care that happens between people rather than behind a closed door. It is checking in on a friend, showing up for a neighbour, and letting someone show up for you when you need it.
When was the last time you let yourself be cared for by other people?
What community care actually looks like
The good news is that community care does not ask much of you. It is less about grand gestures and more about small, repeatable habits. A few to try this month:
- Reach out first. Send the text you keep meaning to send. A two-minute check-in can be the best part of someone’s day (and yours).
- Say yes to the invitation. The walk, the coffee, the group you have been meaning to try. Showing up counts, even when your energy is low.
- Share a meal. Eating with other people is one of the oldest forms of care we have.
- Give a little time. Volunteering is care that flows both ways. It connects you to people while you help them.
- Let people in. Community care only works if you are willing to receive it, not just give it. Being a safe space for others is easier when you let them be one for you too. Asking for support is a strength, not a burden.
None of these require a self-care budget. They just require reaching out — which is exactly the thing that gets harder when you are struggling, and exactly the thing that helps most.
Community care, built for you: Community Connections
If reaching out on your own feels like a lot right now, you do not have to build a community from scratch. That is precisely what our Community Connections program is here for. Open to anyone 16 and older across York Region and South Simcoe (including right here in Newmarket), Community Connections is a free, welcoming way to find your people:
- Drop-in Social Hub where staff and volunteers make it easy to connect informally, in a space that feels safe.
- Peer support from people who have lived through their own mental health challenges.
- Activity-based groups like yoga, art, games, cooking and walking, so connection happens naturally around something you enjoy.
- Educational support for mental health literacy and skill building, such as stress management and healthy boundaries.
- Employment support for when you are ready to look at work, from resumes to interview practice.
Looking to make self-care a lasting habit? Explore the CMHA College of Health & Well-Being, where you’ll find free courses and workshops that support mental health, physical well-being, personal growth, and recovery. Everyone is welcome.
There is no cost, and no doctor’s referral needed to start. You can join by calling Central Intake at 1-866-345-0183 ext. 3321, or by filling out the registration form on the program page.
See if Community Connections is right for you.
An easy first step: Walk with us on Sunday, September 13
If you want one low-pressure way to put community care into practice, we have the perfect one coming up.
On September 13, hundreds of people from across the region will gather for Mental Health in Motion, a 5K community walk for wellness. It is free to join, open to all ages and abilities, and it is community care in its simplest form: showing up, together, for something that matters. You can walk on your own or bring a team. Mental Health in Motion supports people in York Region and South Simcoe — adults, youth, and families — so they can access care, feel supported, and know they are not alone. Funds raised help support our programs, including youth services like MOBYSS, which provides free, confidential care for youth ages 12+.
Consider this your invitation. Circle the date, and if the fall feels like a good time to start showing up for yourself and others, start here.
The takeaway this Self-Care Day
Real self-care is not just about what you do for yourself. It is also about who you let in, and who you show up for. If you want more everyday ways to protect your mental health, our guides to prioritizing your mental health and self-care through the holidays are good next reads.
So this July, by all means, take the bath. Then send the text, say yes to the plan, and remember that the people around you are part of your care plan too.
If you have been carrying more than you can manage alone, you do not have to. CMHA York Region and South Simcoe offers free, publicly funded mental health support, no family doctor required. Reaching out might be the most caring thing you do for yourself all year.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional advice. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 any time, or reach York Region’s crisis line at 1-855-310-COPE (2673).
