Calendar of Behavioral Health (Mental Health, Addictions, Abuse, Relationship & Parenting) Awareness Days, Weeks & Months
/January
February
March
April
May
National Children's Mental Health Week
Older American's Mental Health Week
Schizophrenia Awareness Week
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
January, 3rd Monday Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Civil Rights, Peace, Nonviolence. I have a page just for MLK.
February 26 – March 3, 2012 National Eating Disorders Awareness Week Held annually during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, NEDA educates and screens for eating disorders and connects those at-risk with local resources. Many people struggle with the way they look or how they feel about their bodies, with one out of three normal dieters progressing to pathological dieting. In the United States, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder, which has one of the highest mortality rates of any mental illness.http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/programs-events/nedawareness-week.php
National Eating Disorders Screening Program® (NEDSP) online and in the community screening program: http://mentalhealthscreening.org/events/national-eating-disorder-screening-program.aspx
April 5, 2011 National Alcohol Screening Day Online, in the community. Held annually on Thursday of the first full week of April, NASD is an outreach, education, and screening program that raises awareness about alcohol misuse and refers individuals with alcohol problemfor further evaluation. The program is provided by nearly a thousand colleges, community-based organizations, and military installations world-wide each year. Organized by Screening for Mental Healthhttp://mentalhealthscreening.org/events/national-alcohol-screening-day.aspx
April 1 – 30, 2012 Alcohol Awareness Month National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. 244 East 58th Street, 4th Floor New York, NY 10022 (800) NCA-CALL (622-2255) (24-hour helpline) (212) 269-7797 (212) 269-7510 Fax national@ncadd.org www.ncadd.org Materials available
May 1 – May 7, 2012 National Children’s Mental Health Week This week is dedicated to increasing public awareness about the triumphs and challenges in children’s mental health and emphasizing the importance of family and youth involvement in the children’s mental health movement! Organized by National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health http://www.ffcmh.org/
May 1 – May 31, 2012 Mental Health Month Mental Health America is proud to continue its tradition of celebrating “May is Mental Health Month,” which began in 1949. Organized by Mental Health America http://www.nmha.org/
May 19 – May 25, 2012 Older Americans’ Mental Health Week An annual opportunity to spread the message that mental illness is not a normal part of aging. Public awareness increases a community’s understanding of mental illness and reduces the stigma that keeps many older Americans from seeking help. Public awareness activities can range from an information display at a library to a speaker panel event. Together, during Older Americans’ Mental Health Week, we will continue to tell the American public and policy makers that: mental illness is not a normal part of aging; mental illnesses are real, common and treatable; the more people know, the more they can help themselves and others; and healthy adults continue to learn, enjoy life and contribute to society. Organized by The Older Women’s League (OWL) http://www.mentalhealthweek.org/Welcome.html
May 20 – May 26, 2012 Schizophrenia Awareness Week One out of every one hundred people has schizophrenia. People with this illness not only face difficult and at times debilitating symptoms, but they also face a society that stigmatizes and often isolates them. Organized by Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America.http://www.sardaa.org
June 27, 2012 National Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day The U.S. Senate passed a resolution authored by Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., designating June 27 as National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day. http://bit.ly/bSV5VG Organized by United States Senate.
July 1 – July 31, 2012 National Minority Mental Health Month In 2008 the US House of Representatives proclaimed July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This provides NAMI state and affiliates with a wonderful opportunity to reach out to diverse communities. Learn more about Bebe here. Organized by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) http://bit.ly/gZN8iG
September 1 – September 30, 2012 National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month Recovery Month aims to promote the societal benefits of alcohol and drug use disorder treatment, laud the contributions of treatment providers, and promote the message that recovery from alcohol and drug disorders in all its forms is possible. Organized by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)http://www.recoverymonth.gov/
September 4 – September 10, 2011 National Suicide Prevention Week Suicide prevention is everyone’s business and anyone can participate in National Suicide Prevention Week. Suicide and suicidal behavior affects individuals of all ages, genders, races and religions across the planet. Suicide affects more men than women in all countries but China. Risk factors remain essentially the same from country to country. Mental illness, substance abuse, previous suicide attempts, hopelessness, access to lethal means, recent loss of loved ones, unemployment and vulnerability to self-harm are just a few examples of risk factors. Protective factors are also the same in all corners of the world. High self-esteem, social connectedness, problem-solving skills, supportive family and friends are all examples of factors that buffer against suicide and suicidal behaviors. Organized by American Association of Suicidology. http://www.suicidology.org/web/guest/about-aas/nspw
September 8, 2012 World Suicide Prevention Day We believe that through a combined effort at an international and local level, a difference to the lives of many will be made. Suicide Can be Prevented. * The WHO has noted that not all suicides can be prevented, but a majority can. * Developing and implementing national strategies as well as specific local interventions can lower rates of suicide in diverse populations. * Successful approaches to suicide prevention have includes: restricting access to means; establishing community prevention programs; establishing guidelines for media reporting; and engaging with frontline professionals through gate keeper training programs Organized by International Association for Suicide Prevention.http://www.iasp.info/wspd/index.php
October Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October 7 – October 13, 2012 Mental Illness Awareness Week In 1990, the U.S. Congress established the first week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) in recognition of NAMI’s efforts to raise mental illness awareness. Since 1990, mental health advocates across the country have joined together during the first full week of October to celebrate. MIAW has become a NAMI tradition. It presents an opportunity to all NAMI state organizations and affiliates across the country to work together in communities to achieve the NAMI mission through outreach, education and advocacy. The National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding is Tuesday. Organized by NAMI. http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=mental_illness_awareness_week
October 4, 2012 National Bipolar Awareness Day In recognition of National Bipolar Awareness Day, the IBPF is introducing our own version of Pay it Forward: Say it Forward! Take the time today to educate one person about bipolar disorder. If that person does the same, and so on, think of how much change we can create. Organized by International Bipolar Foundation.http://www.internationalbipolarfoundation.org/
October 4, 2012 National Depression Screening Day Held annually during Mental Illness Awareness Week in October, NDSD raises awareness and screens people for depression and related mood and anxiety disorders. NDSD is the nation’s oldest voluntary, community-based screening program that provides referral information for treatment. More than half a million people each year have been screened for depression since 1991. Spread the Word about National Depression Screening Day – select a news brief to post to your website or email to your community. Organized by Screening for Mental Health:http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/events/national-depression-screening-day.aspx
October 10, 2012 Worldwide Mental Health Day World Mental Health Day raises public awareness about mental health issues. The Day promotes more open discussion of mental disorders, and investments in prevention and treatment services. The treatment gap for mental, neurological and substance use disorders is formidable especially in poor resource countries. Physical and mental health are intertwined. There is a real need to deal with mental health problems of people with chronic physical illnesses and physical care of mental health consumers through a continued and integrated care. Organized by the World Health Organization. See World Federation for Mental Health for annual themes: http://www.wfmh.com/00WorldMentalHealthDay.htm
November 17, 2011 International Survivors of Suicide Day International Survivors of Suicide Day is a day of healing for those who have lost someone to suicide. The third Saturday in November was designated as National Survivors of Suicide Day by United States Senate resolution in 1999 through the efforts of Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, who lost his father to suicide. Every year, AFSP sponsors an event to provide an opportunity for the survivor community to come together for support, healing, information and empowerment. In recognition of the fact that the problem of suicide know no geographic or national boundaries, AFSP’s event is now titled International Survivors of Suicide Day. For more information see: http://www.afsp.org/index.cfm?page_id=fee7d778-cf08-cb44-da1285b6bbcf366e
