We are thrilled to be entering into a special relationship with Expert Self Care.
They believe that everyone should have easy access to trusted health information on their mobile phones - tailored to their needs and general circumstances - so they can live healthier, happier and more fulfilling lives.
We are sincerely grateful to Expert Self Care’s founder, Dr Knut Schroeder, a GP and Health Information Specialist with over 20 years of experience of working in the NHS and UK Higher Education, for all his enthusiasm and support.
Expert Self Care’s story began with Knut realising that many of his patients either worried too much about their health - or not enough. People often took days, months or even years to bring up the courage to see their doctor for a health concern - only to be reassured after having been assessed. Or they left it too late seeking medical help, leading to sometimes serious consequences, such as self-harm or suicide, late-stage cancer or irreversible organ damage. To help people make better-informed decisions, Knut wrote “Diagnosing Your Health Symptoms For Dummies” in 2010.
Prompted by a rise in mental ill-health among university students, Knut and a colleague planned to write a similar book for young people and students. But while students were desperate for better access to trusted information, they didn't want a book! They wanted us to create app instead that would:
provide information "faster and less frustrating than googling"
"work without an internet connection when data had run out, during a night out or on a beach"
be "dead easy to use - even after a few beers"
Despite not being techy, Knut took this as a challenge, got a team of talented and equally energised people together, started work on the successful Student Health App and founded Expert Self Care in 2012. One app led to another, and by July 2021 - after many 'apps' and downs - he and his growing number of committed teams had co-created 9 apps aimed at different groups of people who needed support, such as young carers, people who self-harm, and those struggling with bladder or bowel leakage.
“Expert Self Care are delighted to have entered into a special relationship with The British Inspiration Trust (BRIT). For over 10 years, BRIT have been striving to support young adult mental health and their annual inclusive BRIT Challenge is an exciting opportunity for every university and college student, and staff member, to take part in a UK-wide feel-good February fundraiser to improve and support young adult mental health and fitness.
BRIT are a collaborative charity and in 2022, they will be inviting every university, college and Students’ Union to enter teams in the BRIT Challenge and chose a second charity to raise funds for, alongside BRIT. This decision will undoubtedly support many local, regional and national charities whose fundraising efforts have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
BRIT are striving to unite the education, sport and charity sectors to improve young adult mental health throughout the UK and their approach to champion other charities and support services is both innovative and inspiring. BRIT are determined to destigmatise mental health and their BRIT Ambassadors, who share their lived experience at universities and colleges of their choice, enthuse students to participate in their annual BRIT Challenge and assist with signposting to support available to students and staff.
I am delighted that BRIT will be providing an area on their websites to signpost students and staff to apps available that can support their mental health, including our Expert Self Care apps, and we look forward to promoting the annual BRIT Challenge and encouraging every university, college and Students’ Union to enter teams.”
Dr Knut Schroeder GP and Health Information App Developer
Founder & Director, Expert Self Care Ltd
Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol
Expert Self Care help universities, NHS organisations, health charities and private healthcare providers support high-priority and underserved communities more effectively - with self-care education apps.
Given the rise in mental health problems, gaps in service provision and challenges to do with the pandemic, Expert Self Care know it can be hard for service providers to fulfil their duty of care. Service Providers might find it every tougher when people in their communities can't easily find the right information to:
make sound decisions about their health
self-care and manage their health at home
find and choose services wisely
Expert Self Care have created a range of targeted free-to-download apps that enable Service Providers to educate people about their health and signpost available support more effectively.
If you are a Service Provider and would like to find out more about Expert Self Care’s services, please check out their Explore our Services page.
Expert Self Care’s apps make it easy for Service Providers to give specific groups of people quick, convenient and discreet access to evidence-informed health information in one single space - within the comfort of their mobile phones;
Improve people's health knowledge. What's normal. What to look out for. When to worry - and when not. When to seek help. What to do next.
Help people self-care. How to manage health at home. When to see a pharmacist. How to use over the counter medicines. How to become more resourceful.
Signpost support more effectively. How to navigate the NHS and other services. How to find local support. What to do in an emergency.
Expert Self Care hope Service Providers will;
Be better at reaching people who have questions about their health but are too afraid to ask - and those who don't usually look out for health information.
Think of these apps as handy places where users can find information similar to that on the NHS website - but more targeted, easier to navigate and accessible offline.
Young adults, Student, and university and college staff, can download Expert Self Care’s apps for free. Available apps for you to use are:
Since 2012, Expert Self Care have helped organisations provide self-help education to groups of people needing better support.
Led by an experienced GP with over 20 years experience of working in the NHS and UK Higher Education
Information on apps is evidence-based, reviewed regularly and up-to-date
App content co-created with teams of UK health professionals, national topic experts, users and trustworthy partners
Certified by the Patient Information Forum 'PIF Tick', the UK's only quality mark for health information
Apps reviewed and monitored by the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Applications (ORCHA)
Apps assessed by NHS Digital and listed on the NHS Apps Library
Winner of the 2019 British Medical Association 'Patient Information Award' for wellbeing
Expert Self Care is the UK's first and only provider of dedicated self-help and health education apps. They create apps, write health information and have medical expertise - all in-house.