Hello mental health advocates! One of the main bits of information every advocate should be aware of are mental health observances! When I started my blog I wanted to know about all of the mental health awareness weeks and observances that were happening in the coming year but I never could find a complete list. So I decided to create my own!!
Here are all the observances that I have found that are happening in 2017. (This list will be updated when new events are posted throughout the year!)
January
- Mental Wellness Month
- Hunt for Kindness Week (January 15-21)
February
- National Eating Disorder Awareness Month
- National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (February 26-March 04)
- Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
March
- Brain Injury Awareness Month
- Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
- National Sleep Awareness Month
- Self Harm Awareness Day (March 1)
- World Bipolar Day (March 30)
April
- Alcohol Awareness Month
- National Autism Awareness Month
- National Counseling Awareness Month
- PMDD Awareness Month
- Sexual Assault Awareness Month
- Stress Awareness Month
- World Health Day (April 7)
May
- Mental Health Month
- Children’s Mental Health Week (May 7-13)
- Depression and Anxiety Awareness Week (TBD)
- National Women’s Health Awareness Week (May 14-20)
- Schizophrenia Awareness Week (TBD)
June
- PTSD Awareness Month
- Men’s Health Week (June 12-18)
July
- Minority Mental Health Month
August
September
- Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
- National Drug and Alcohol Recovery Month
- World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10)
October
- ADHD Awareness Month
- Bipolar Awareness Day
- Depression and Mental Health Screening Month
- Mental Illness Awareness Week (TBD)
- OCD Awareness Week (TBD)
- World Mental Health Day (October 10)
November
- International Survivors of Suicide Day (November 18)
- National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month
- National Child Mental Health Month
December
- Stress-Free Family Holiday Month
- International Person’s with Disabilities Month
Looking at this list gives me so many great ideas for how I can spread awareness for all different types of mental health topics this year! What awareness month are you most excited for? Do you have any plans for spreading awareness for your own personal mental health topic this year? Have any more awareness weeks that need to be added to this list?? Let me know down in the comments!