Pop star Britney Spears says she is taking some “me time” after a report she checked herself into a mental health facility to help cope with her father’s illness.

Spears, 37, announced in January that she was pulling out of all her concerts and work commitments to be with her family after her father Jamie nearly died in November after suffering a ruptured colon.

On Wednesday, the Stronger singer posted a message on Instagram saying: “We all need to take time for a little ‘me time’.”

Spears also posted a quote reading: “Fall in love with taking care of yourself, mind, body, spirit.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvziBzUgQoz/

Celebrity website TMZ said Spears voluntarily checked herself into a residential mental health facility about a week ago.

A source close to the singer said Mr Spears was not doing well after a second surgery three weeks ago, and that Spears was finding his prolonged illness hard to deal with.

“They are very close. She just wants to take time to focus on herself,” the source said.

Mr Spears is credited with reviving the career of his teen sensation daughter after her life spiralled out of control in 2007. He remains the court-approved conservator of her business affairs.

Spears became a pop phenomenon in 1999 with her debut single Baby One More Time and subsequent hits like Oops! I Did It Again. She made a comeback in late 2008 with the album and world tour Circus and has performed in Las Vegas since 2014.

In January, Spears withdrew from a series of concerts in Las Vegas that were due to run from February to August.