By Stephen Adeleye.
In a significant breakthrough at the intersection of healthcare innovation and mental health research, Nigerian-born medical doctor and UK-based academic Dr. Kennedy Oberhiri Obohwemu has introduced a transformative tool designed to quantify emotional resilience in an entirely new way.
The innovation, known as the Self-Comforting and Coping Scale (SCCS), is the first scientifically validated instrument specifically created to measure self-soothing behaviours—the often overlooked yet vital responses people use to regulate emotional distress. This tool is accompanied by the Self-Comforting and Coping Theory (SCCT), a novel conceptual model that redefines how clinicians, researchers, and policymakers understand adaptive coping.
Together, the SCCS and SCCT represent a disruptive innovation in mental health assessment—offering precision, personalisation, and practical relevance in a space long dominated by broad and often culturally narrow tools.
“With the SCCS, we’re moving from generalised coping frameworks to a targeted, behaviour-specific assessment,” Dr. Obohwemu said. “It’s a shift from treating symptoms to understanding self-regulation as a proactive, measurable skill.”
A High-Impact Tool Rooted in Rigorous Science
Unlike traditional tools such as the Brief COPE or Self-Compassion Scale, which broadly assess emotional strategies, the SCCS focuses specifically on how individuals self-soothe in the moment of stress. It identifies 13 dimensions of self-comforting—ranging from mindfulness and positive self-talk to cognitive reframing and emotional release.
Developed through extensive research and validated with strong psychometric reliability, the SCCS has been published in the Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences and is now being tested further in global trials (ISRCTN12254719).
The tool has immediate implications for clinical settings, where tailored psychological interventions are increasingly in demand. But it also shows strong potential for application in workplace wellness programs, education systems, and community-based mental health initiatives, where resilience and wellbeing are critical for long-term outcomes.
Bridging Innovation and Equity in Mental Health
At its core, Dr. Obohwemu’s innovation addresses a major equity gap in mental health: the lack of culturally responsive, behaviourally specific tools that reflect how people from diverse backgrounds regulate stress and seek comfort.
“Coping is deeply personal, but also deeply cultural,” he noted. “The SCCS is designed to be globally adaptable, capturing behavioural insights that can inform cross-cultural care, prevention strategies, and even digital mental health solutions.”
As healthcare systems across the world strive for more data-driven, patient-centred approaches, the SCCS offers a timely model for integrating behavioural insights into scalable interventions—from app-based mental health platforms to clinical risk assessments.
Toward a More Resilient Future
Dr. Obohwemu, who lectures in public health, psychology, and social care, continues to mentor emerging professionals while advancing interdisciplinary research that links mental health science, public policy, and human-centred innovation.
His work aligns with a growing shift in global health: prioritising not only what works, but what fits—tools and frameworks that are both evidence-based and contextually meaningful.
For innovators, investors, and health leaders seeking effective solutions to rising stress, burnout, and mental health demands, the SCCS represents a forward-thinking model—one grounded in scientific rigour and built for real-world impact.
To learn more about the SCCS and its ongoing development, visit www.TheScoreStudy.com or follow its progress via https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN12254719
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