Welcome to October, lovely readers! Home to Halloween, my birthday, and a plethora of mental health- and brain-related awareness events:

Brain Injury Awareness Month – The Brain Injury Association of America offers free, downloadable materials to help educate yourself and others about brain injuries.

Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week – The BACCHUS Network provides an online manual to give information about facts and resources, as well as ideas for promotional materials and fundraising, so you’ll be prepared when this year’s Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week kicks off on October 19. Once you’re finished there, learn more about the 12 Steps from Mark over at A Dozen Steps.

Mental Illness Awareness Week – The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides special ideas and resources for recognizing Mental Illness Awareness Week October 5-11.

Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day – NAMI has also cooked up some information, resources, and downloadable materials for this years Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day October 9. Once you’ve checked those out, head over to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance for even more resources!

National Depression Screening Day – Just like BPAD, National Depression Screening Day also takes place during Mental Illness Awareness Week on October 10. Visit MentalHealthScreening.org to find a screening location in your area, or get a free online depression screening.

Alzheimer’s Memory Walk – Memory Walks usually take place in the fall, so visit the Alzheimer’s Association to see if any walks are happening in your area this month. Then, head over to b5media’s Alzheimer’s Notes to learn more about caring for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Autism Awareness Month – October is Autism Awareness Month in Canada, and you can learn more about it when you visit the Autism Society of Canada. You can also learn more about autism when you visit b5media’s own Kristina Chew at Autism Vox.

World Mental Health Day – The World Federation for Mental Health provides a ton of information about this year’s World Mental Health Day.

Other awareness events of interest for all consumers?

• National Disability Employment Awareness Month
• Domestic Violence Awareness Month
• National Healthcare Quality Week
• National Health Education Week
• Health Literacy Month
• Talk About Prescriptions Month
• Make A Difference Day

As if all that weren’t enough, don’t forget to check out everything Karen Lynch has in store for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

So, what do you have planned for October?

Image: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

October 2008 Mental Health Awareness Events

Mark your calendars, readers! Mental Health Month may not be until May, but March is busting at the seams with mental health- and brain-related “awareness” events of its own around the globe!

March is:

• Mental Retardation Awareness Month, sponsored by The Arc.
• Professional Social Work Month, sponsored by the National Association of Social Workers.
• National Brain Injury Awareness Month, sponsored by the Brain Injury Association of America.
• National Epilepsy Month, sponsored by Epilepsy Canada.

And within the month of March we have:

• Brain Awareness Week, March 10-16.
• Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 2-8.
• National Sleep Awareness Week, March 3-9.
• Mental Health Action Week, March 23-29.

I use three different sources when it comes to finding information about awareness months and days: Pam Pohly’s Net Guide’s Health Observances and Health Care Recognition Dates; the National Health Information Center’s YEAR 2008 AT A GLANCE; and What Health’s Health Current Events. However, given the number of health-related awareness months, weeks, and days in March alone, I could have very easily missed one or three that are related to mental health and the brain. Know of any? Send ‘em my way and I’ll add ‘em to the list!

The majority of tomorrow’s NAMI meeting is going to be dedicated to a suicide prevention workshop, but here at Mental Health Notes all of you and I are going to take some time out here and there to recognize these awareness dates.

In the meantime, do you have any special activities planned to show awareness? Your family, church, school, club, or organization?

Image source.
Sheba Kitty Productions.

Post from: Blisstree

Keep Your Brains Busy This March!