Awareness months provide an opportunity to educate, promote, advocate, and raise funds for different causes. Here’s how you can get involved this month.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month 

The American Cancer Society celebrates October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. From large-scale traditional walks to unique local experiences and celebrations, the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer has united communities, companies, and individuals across the country in the fight to end breast cancer for more than two decades.

Spina Bifida Awareness Month 

October is Spina Bifida Awareness Month—a time to celebrate the hundreds of thousands of people in the United States living with Spina Bifida. Every October, the Spina Bifida Association shares anecdotes from the community that challenge us to raise awareness and support those around us affected by Spina Bifida. Here are 10 ideas you can do to raise awareness this season.

Mental Illness Awareness Week (Oct. 3-9) 

Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) was established in 1990 by Congress to educate and increase awareness about mental illness. It takes place every year during the first full week of October. 

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is centering the week around their new awareness campaign, “Together for Mental Health,” focusing on the importance of advocating for better care for people with serious mental illness (SMI). Each day throughout the week, we will be raising the voices of people with lived experience to talk about SMI and the need for improved crisis response and mental health care.

Mental Health America observes Mental Illness Awareness Week every year by reaching millions of people through the media, local events, and online screenings. In contrast to Mental Health Month, which stresses the importance of mental health and wellness for all, Mental Illness Awareness Week is an opportunity to spread awareness about what mental health conditions are and how they affect peoples’ everyday lives.

World Psoriasis Day 

Join the National Psoriasis Foundation in Celebrating Friday, Oct. 29 as World Psoriasis Day. Psoriasis is a disease with an unclear cause that is characterized by inflammation caused by dysfunction of the immune system. Psoriasis can cause inflammation in the body and affects more than eight million people in the U.S.  

Additional Awareness Weeks & Days:  

• Health Literacy Month
• National Healthcare Quality Week (Oct. 17–23) 
• Respiratory Care Week (Oct. 24-30) 
• National Health Education Week (Oct. 18-22)