health & wellness

Here are October’s themes and observances for health and wellness – we’ve provided links and tools that you can use in your employee and social media communications.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Toolkit for National Breast cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women. About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point.

In 2015, an estimated 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer were projected, as well as 60,290 additional cases of in situ breast cancer. Approximately 40,290 women and 440 men were expected to die from
breast cancer. Only lung cancer accounts for more cancer deaths in women. More than 3.1 million US women with a history of breast cancer were alive on January 1, 2014. Some of these women were cancer-free, while others still had evidence of cancer and may have been undergoing treatment. (from the most recent 2015–2016 Breast Cancer Facts & Figures PDF)

National Bullying Prevention Month
This year marks the 10 year anniversary of working to fight bullying. National Bullying Prevention Month is a nationwide campaign founded in 2006 by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. The campaign is held during the month of October and unites communities around the world to educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention.
Over the past 10 years, this campaign grew from a small week-long event to a worldwide effort with multiple activities throughout October. National Bullying Prevention Month is supported by hundreds of schools, major corporations, and celebrities.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month
The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) annually joins with partners, supporters, and allies across the country to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). NNEDV’s campaign this year will bust prevalent myths about domestic violence. Find ways to get involved.

National Work & Family Month
How is your organization’s work-life effectiveness? Now is a great time to raise the bar to ensure your workplace meets employees’ needs and addresses the challenges they face.
National Work & Family Month, established in 2003 and celebrated every October, focuses on the challenges working families face every day. The month is nationally recognized by businesses, academic institutions, federal agencies, members of Congress, work-life advocacy groups and individuals who want to make it easier for employees to succeed at work and at home. Access resources on Work-Life, Well-Being, Workplace Flexibility, Financial Wellness, Caring for Dependents, Paid & unpadi Time Off, and more.

Health Literacy Month
The theme for Health Literacy Month 2016 is “Be a Health Literacy Hero.” It’s about taking action and finding ways to improve health communication. Health Literacy Heroes are individuals, teams, or organizations who not only identify health literacy problems but also act to solve them. Here are tools and resources.

Designated dates

Oct 2-8: Mental Illness Awareness Week
During the first full week of October, NAMI and participants across the country are raising awareness of mental illness. Each year we fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for equal care. Each year, the movement grows stronger.

Oct. 3-7: 2016 Drive Safely Work Week
Sponsored by the Network of Employers; for Traffic Safety (NETS). Drowsy driving and other important risky driving behaviors and countermeasures are highlighted in this year’s campaign. Driver behavior contributes to 94% of all traffic crashes, according to NHTSA, meaning nearly all crashes are preventable.

October 6: National Depression Screening Day
Held annually during Mental Illness Awareness Week in October, National Depression Screening Day (NDSD) is comprised of awareness events that include an optional screening component. Take an anonymous screening.

October 10: Put the Brakes on Fatalities – reducing transportation fatalities

Oct. 15: National Latino AIDS Awareness Day

Oct. 9-15: Fire Prevention Week – This year’s theme is “Don’t Wait – Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years.”

Oct. 22: International Stuttering Awareness Day

Oct. 23-31: Red Ribbon Week – Youth drug awareness & prevention

Additional Observances in October

National Dental Hygiene Month

Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month

National Physical Therapy Month – #ChoosePT!

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