If you are planning employee newsletters, intranets, or other communications, we’ve compiled a list of May events with links to helpful resources from event sponsors or topical experts. Some links include tool kits and social media messages related to the event; others offer valuable information on the topic. Here’s our pick of May dates & events that you may want to check out and promote to your employees.
Mental Health Awareness Month
More than 50 million Americans – or 1 in every 5 adults – grapple with mental health issues at some point over the course of a lifetime, but only about half seek help. May is Mental Health Month, a good time to heighten awareness of mental health issues,among your employees, and to raise their awareness of resources for help.
- MHA’s 2023 Mental Health Month campaign is focused on how surroundings impact mental health, calling for individuals to look around, look within. Download MHA’s May Mental Health Month Outreach Toolkit which includes potential activities that you can do, written newsletter articles, social media images and post language, fact sheets, worksheets, posters and more) for you to share.
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMSHA) focus on Mental Health Awareness Month includes a toolkit and various helpful resources.
- If you or someone you know is in danger of self-harm or harming others, call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Hotline.
- Please note the following services that ESI EAP provides to our members:
• Telephonic in-the-moment counseling from clinical professionals 24/7/365 for anxiety, depression, mental health issues.
• One-to-one professional coaching for stress management, resilience, and wellness issues.
• Online self-help resources, assessments, and video courses for mental health issues.
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
- The CDC offers excellent resources on physical activity, including guidelines for how much physical activity adults need, and helpful ways to add physical activity to your life.
- Move Your Way offers tools, videos, fact sheets. and tips that make it easier to get a little more active. And small changes can add up to big health benefits! Find tools and resources for adults, for parents and for during and after pregnancy.
- May is also Bike Month and the League of American Bicyclists has you covered with a variety of tools and educational materials on their site. Please note that May15-21 Bike to Work Week and May 19 is Bike to Work Day. See our 2018 blog post on The many benefits of biking: May is National Bike Month for related resources, including safety videos.
National Stroke Awareness Month
- Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. Learn more about strokes from the American Stroke Association.
- CDC: Stroke Signs & Symptoms
- CDC: Prevent Stroke: What You Can Do
- Harvard Health: 7 things you can do to prevent a stroke
Women’s Health
- Mother’s Day falls on May 14, which kicks off Women’s Health Week (May 14-20), a good time to raise awareness about wmen’s health issues and steps they can take to improve their health.
- CDC: Women’s Health Resources
- Office of Women’s Health
ESI EAP Member Website theme for the month of May
In May, the member website theme is The Science of Happiness. Resources include a webinar and relevant content. EAP members can login at the home page: www.theEAP.com.
Other noteworthy May events:
- Melanoma and Skin Cancer Prevention and Awareness Month
- Older Americans Month
- Clean Air Month
- National Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month
- Arthritis Awareness Month
- National High Blood Pressure Education Month
- Bladder Cancer Awareness Month
- Brain Tumor Awareness Month
- 14 – Mother’s Day
- 18 – HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
- 29 – Memorial Day
- 31 – World No Tobacco Day