It’s likely that you’re familiar with some of the annual events which raise awareness for health conditions such as breast cancer, heart disease or diabetes. But how much do you know about the many great programs which recognize a variety of issues related to mental and emotional health each year?
The following list covers selected annual observances which strive to increase awareness, provide information and offer resources for various mental health issues and conditions, as well as a few which promote overall health and wellness. This list is by no means exhaustive and it mainly covers the US and a few international events. Click on the name of each event to access additional information.
January:
Substance Use Disorder Treatment Month
This program, supported by the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has goals to raise awareness of treatment options (including medications) for substance use disorders, eliminate stigma surrounding treatment, encourage those on their treatment and recovery journey, and promote best practices for screening, intervention, and treatment by health care providers.
February:
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
The goal of this program from the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is to shine the spotlight on eating disorders and put life-saving resources into the hands of those in need.
March:
This campaign by the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) serves to educate the general public about the incidence of brain injury and the needs of people with brain injuries and their families, destigmatize the injury, empower those who have survived, and promote the many types of support that are available.
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week
This educational program from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) links teens to science based facts to “Shatter The Myths” about drugs. The week includes “National Drug and Alcohol Chat Day,” which features a live online chat between high school students and NIDA scientists to discuss facts about drug abuse and addiction and how to help friends or family who are in need.
This is a grassroots annual global awareness event/campaign observed on March 1, where some people choose to be more open about their own self-harm, and various organizations make special efforts to raise awareness about self-harm and self-injury.
Observed on March 30 each year, the vision of World Bipolar Day is to bring world awareness to bipolar disorders and to eliminate social stigma surrounding this condition.
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
Each March, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) and its partners create a campaign which seeks to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all facets of community life, as well as awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities still sometimes face in connecting to the communities in which they live.
April:
Sponsored by the Autism Society, the event was established to promote autism awareness, inclusion and self-determination for all, and assure that each person with autism is provided the opportunity to achieve the highest possible quality of life.
The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) developed this observance to help reduce the stigma associated with alcoholism by encouraging communities to reach out with information about alcohol, alcoholism and recovery.
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
This event recognizes the importance of working together to prevent child abuse and neglect and to promote the social and emotional well-being of children and families. Resources and strategies are provided to encourage families and communities to increase awareness and provide education and support to prevent child abuse and neglect.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Sponsored by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, this month-long campaign is designed to raise public awareness about sexual violence and educate communities on how to prevent it. One focus was on how asking for consent is a healthy, normal, & necessary part of everyday interactions.
National Minority Health Month
Celebrated each April, this observance builds awareness about the disproportionate burden of premature death and illness in people from racial and ethnic minority groups and encourages action through health education, early detection and control of disease complications.
May:
Established by Mental Health America in 1949, this event employs media, local awareness events and screenings to spread the word that mental health is something everyone should care about.
Sponsored by SAMHSA, this annual event focuses on a wide range of topics related to the prevention of mental illnesses and substance misuse; it celebrates prevention efforts in organizations and communities throughout the nation.
World Maternal Mental Health Day
This observance, held the first Wednesday in May, promotes the message that “maternal mental health matters” and aims to raise awareness of maternal mental health issues so that more women will get support and treatment and fewer will suffer.
Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week
Held each year in early May and promoted by the National Federation of Families, this event raises awareness about the importance of children’s mental health and highlights how positive mental health is essential to a child’s healthy development from birth. SAMHSA also promotes a similar children’s mental health awareness day each May.
National Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day
Sponsored by SAMHSA, this event is designed to raise awareness around the mental health of older Americans and spur actions to address their needs through evidence-based approaches to mental health and substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery supports.
National LGBTQ Health Awareness Week
With the support of the National Coalition for LGBTQ Health, this observance week in late May is designed to help the healthcare community advocate for reducing barriers to LGBTQ persons by creating and maintaining safe, inclusive and welcoming environments—and ensuring quality, accessible and non-discriminatory health care.
Observed each May 24 by a number of international organizations, this day aims to raise public awareness about schizophrenia, reduce the stigma associated with the condition, support those living with schizophrenia and to advocate for early detection and intervention.
June:
Sponsored by the National Center for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), this event, which also includes PTSD Awareness Day on June 27, was developed to encourage everyone to raise public awareness of PTSD and effective treatments.
Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
The Alzheimer’s Association sponsors this annual observance to spread awareness, raise money, and raise hope in the effort to end Alzheimer’s and other brain and memory disorders.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Launched by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization and observed annually on June 15th, this event provides an opportunity for communities to raise awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.
July:
Minority (BIPOC) Mental Health Awareness Month
Established in 2008 in honor of advocate Bebe Moore Campbell, this event’s goals are to improve access to mental health treatment and services and to enhance public awareness of mental illness and mental illness among minorities.
International Self-Care Day and Self Care Month
Promoted by the World Health Organization and other groups, Self-Care Month begins on June 24 and ends on July 24 with Self-Care Day. This symbolic date was chosen because self-care can be practiced “24 hours a day/7 days a week.” The observance focuses on raising the profile of healthy lifestyle self-care programs around the world and to promote self-care as a vital foundation of health.
August:
Observed each year on August 30, this observances is a day dedicated to raising awareness about how we cope with grief, how you can help others cope, and ways to raise awareness and end the stigmas many people have about those that are grieving.
International Overdose Awareness Week and Awareness Day
Initiated in 2001 in Melbourne, Australia, this annual observance on August 31 which has now been expanded to an entire week in late August in some locales, raises awareness and commemorate those lost to a drug overdose. Various materials are provided to share within your own community to prevent overdoses.
September:
SAMHSA sponsors this annual observance to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and celebrate the people who recover. An extensive toolkit of educational materials and treatment resources are provided.
First celebrated in 2024, this annual observance on September 8th is a national initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and emphasizing the importance of mental health and suicide prevention. A toolkit of promotional materials and other resources are provided.
An initiative of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), this day is observed on September 10 every year in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides. The month of September is also recognized as Suicide Prevention Month by various organizations.
World Alzheimer’s Month (and Day)
Sponsored by Alzheimer’s Disease International and recognized each September, this global campaign raises awareness and combats misinformation about Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. September 21 is designated as World Alzheimer’s Day.
October:
Established by the US Congress in recognition of efforts by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), this event occurs every year during the first full week of October. Programs are targeted to promote community outreach and public education concerning mental illnesses. This week also typically includes National Depression Screening Day.
Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRB) Awareness Week
Observed October 1 – 7 each year, The TLC Foundation and the Young Adult Action Council promote education and awareness around trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder), excoriation (skin picking disorder) and related body-focused repetitive behaviors.
This event, observed each year on October 10, was started by the World Federation for Mental Health for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma, by bringing attention to mental illness and its major effects on peoples’ lives worldwide.
This annual event was developed to educate the public about ADHD (attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder) by disseminating reliable information based on the evidence of science and peer-reviewed research.
International OCD Awareness Week
Developed by the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), this event, held during the second week in October, raises awareness and understanding about obsessive compulsive disorder and related disorders, with the goal of helping more people obtain timely access to appropriate and effective treatment.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Observed during the month of October since 1987, this campaign, supported by the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, offers media materials and other resources to help raise awareness and to promote prevention and intervention strategies to reduce domestic violence.
National Bullying Prevention Month
Sponsored by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, this campaign unites communities around the world to educate and raise awareness about bullying prevention and to help kids be safe at school, while online, and in the community.
Most adults struggle with navigating the health care system and making informed decisions about their health. Health Literacy Month, observed during October each year since 1999, was developed to highlight resources to promote the importance of understandable health information.
November:
International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (ASFP) promotes this observance on the Saturday before Thanksgiving (US), where people affected by suicide loss gather around the world at events in their local communities to find comfort and gain understanding as they share stories of healing and hope.
National Family Caregivers Month
Promoted each November since 1994 by the Caregiver Action Network, this observance recognizes, celebrates, educates and supports the efforts of countless numbers of individuals who provide care to their family members or loved ones.
December:
Observed the first week of December, this event raises awareness about bereavement and grief, offers support to the grieving, and promotes open conversations about this sensitive topic. While grief is a natural response to loss, some people have more difficulties processing grief and may need additional support.
I’ve only scratched the surface with this list, but I hope it will give you a better sense of the wide range of excellent mental-health related awareness events going on throughout the year. Stick a copy of this list on your fridge for future reference. Then, take time to learn more and get involved to help promote these worthwhile programs.
Here’s a question: What other mental health awareness events do you know about? Please leave a comment. Also, please subscribe to my blog and feel free to follow me on X (formerly Twitter), “like” my Facebook page, or connect on LinkedIn. Finally, if you enjoyed this article, please share it with a friend. Thanks!