Health Awareness Days, Events & Months

One of the most significant factors in staff retention and workplace happiness is caring for employees' health. Sick days can lead to major costs and disruptions in modern businesses, making employee well-being a top priority. By observing the health awareness days, events and months that resonate with them, companies can create a healthier and more supportive workplace. Not only does this demonstrate a genuine commitment to employee care, but it also fosters a culture of well-being, reducing absenteeism and boosting morale and productivity in the long run.

The Ultimate Guide to Health Awareness Days, Events and Months

January

• Blue Monday | Third Monday of January
  👉 Known as the third Monday of January, it's often cited as the "most depressing day of the year," based on factors like post-holiday blues, weather, and financial strain.
• Self-Love Month | January
  👉 A month dedicated to encouraging people to prioritise self-care, self-compassion, and personal well-being.
• Mental Wellness Month | January
  👉 A month focusing on raising awareness about mental health and promoting strategies for maintaining mental well-being.
• National Stalking Awareness Month | January
  👉 Raises awareness about the dangers of stalking and aims to educate the public on how to recognise and prevent it.
• Dry January | January
  👉 A public health campaign encouraging people to abstain from alcohol for the month to reflect on their drinking habits and promote healthier lifestyles.
• No Name-Calling Week | January
  👉 A week-long educational initiative that promotes kindness and discourages bullying in schools and communities.
• Veganuary | January
  👉 A campaign encouraging people to adopt a vegan diet for the month, promoting animal welfare and environmental sustainability.

February

• Time to Talk Day | 6 February
  👉 A day to encourage open conversations about mental health. Dr Ritz Birah is a brilliant choice for sparking those conversations in the workplace.
• Safer Internet Day | 8 February
  👉 Focuses on promoting safe and responsible internet usage.
• National Random Act of Kindness Day | 17 February
  👉 Encourages people to perform acts of kindness. Meet PepTalk’s kindness queen, Nahla Summers, who can teach your team the ROI of leading with heart.
• World Day of Social Justice | 20 February
  👉 Highlights the importance of social justice in human rights.
• Children’s Mental Health Week | 3-9 February
  👉 Raises awareness of the importance of children’s mental health.
• National School Counseling Week US | First full week of February
  👉 Highlights the work of school counsellors in helping students achieve success.
• Eating Disorders Awareness Week | End of February - early March
  👉 Tackles myths and misunderstandings around eating disorders. Book Elle Mace for an honest, expert-led session on eating disorders and body image.

March

• Self-Injury Awareness Day | 1 March
  👉 Raises awareness about self-harm and self-injury.
• World Compliment Day | 1 March
  👉 Encourages people to share compliments to spread positivity.
• Zero Discrimination Day | 1 March
  👉 Advocates for the right to live with dignity and without discrimination.
• World Teen Mental Health Day | 2 March
  👉 Highlights the importance of teen mental health. Book Carolyne Keenan or Anita Cleare for sessions that speak directly to young people’s mental health challenges.
• Dissociative Disorder Awareness Day | 5 March
  👉 Raises awareness of dissociative disorders.
• Emetophobia Awareness Day | 5 March
  👉 Focuses on raising awareness of the fear of vomiting.
• Insomnia Awareness Day | 10 March
  👉 Focuses on insomnia awareness and sleep health, taking place the first Monday following the change to daylight saving time. Dr Ritz Birah brings the science of sleep to life for workplace audiences.
• University Mental Health Day | March
  👉 Focuses on mental health in universities.
• International Day of Happiness | 20 March
  👉 Promotes happiness as a fundamental human goal.
• TWLOHA Day | 29 March
  👉 To Write Love on Her Arms, a day to support mental health advocacy.
• World Bipolar Day | 30 March
  👉 Increases global awareness of bipolar disorder.
• Creative Arts Therapies Week | Week-long event in March
  👉 Promotes the use of creative arts in therapy for mental health. Explore the top artist speakers to inspire your team.

April

• World Health Day | 7 April
  👉 Highlights global health issues.
• National Alcohol Screening Day | First full week of April
  👉 Focuses on screening for alcohol problems.
• Day of Silence (for LGBTQ+ Youth) | Second Friday of April
  👉 Raises awareness of the silencing effect of anti-LGBTQ+ bullying.
• World Breathing Day | 11 April
  👉 Focuses on the importance of breathing exercises for mental health.
• National Therapy Animal Day US | 30 April
  👉 Recognises the healing role of therapy animals.
• Stress Awareness Month | April
  👉 Raises public awareness about stress and strategies for managing it.
• Alcohol Awareness Month | April
  👉 Promotes public understanding of alcohol-related issues.
• Sexual Assault Awareness Month | April
  👉 Raises awareness about sexual violence and how to prevent it.
• National Counseling Awareness Month | April
  👉 Highlights the value of counseling for mental health.

May

• World Maternal Mental Health Day | 3 May
  👉 Highlights maternal mental health challenges and solutions.
• Postpartum Psychosis Awareness Day | First Friday of May
  👉 Raises awareness of postpartum psychosis.
• National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day | 7 May
  👉 Focuses on mental health issues in children.
• Mental Health Action Day | 18 May
  👉 Encourages people to take action for mental health.
• World Meditation Day | 21 May
  👉 Promotes meditation as a way to improve mental health.
• National Schizophrenia and Psychosis Awareness Day | 24 May
  👉 Raises awareness about schizophrenia and psychosis.
• Mental Health Awareness Week | 12-18 May
  👉 Encourages learning and understanding more about mental health. Meet Owen O’Kane, therapist and bestselling author, and Kim Murray for expert-led sessions that open up the conversation.
• Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month | May
  👉 Increases awareness of borderline personality disorder.
• UK Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month | May
  👉 Focuses on maternal mental health in the UK.
• Neurodiversity Celebration Week | May
  👉 Celebrates neurodiversity and raises awareness of neurodivergent conditions. Meet the best neurodiversity keynote speakers.

June

• National Say Something Nice Day | 1 June
  👉 Encourages people to spread kindness through words.
• World Eating Disorders Action Day | 2 June
  👉 Focuses on the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. Elle Mace speaks with candour and expertise on recovery, body image, and building healthier relationships with food.
• World Drug Day | 26 June
  👉 Raises awareness of drug addiction and recovery.
• PTSD Screening Day | 27 June
  👉 Focuses on screening for PTSD.
• PTSD Awareness Month | June
  👉 Raises awareness about post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Infant Mental Health Awareness Week | 10-16 June
  👉 Highlights the importance of early mental health in infants.

July

• Panic Attack Awareness Day | 10 July
  👉 Raises awareness of panic attacks and their effects.
• National Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Day | 24 July
  👉 Increases awareness of seasonal affective disorder.
• International Self-Care Day | 24 July
  👉 Promotes self-care practices for mental well-being.
• National Schizophrenia Awareness Day | 24 July
  👉 Raises awareness about schizophrenia.
• Minority Mental Health Awareness Month | July
  👉 Focuses on mental health in minority communities.
• BIPOC Mental Health Month | July
  👉 Highlights the mental health challenges of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.
• Disability Pride Month | July
  👉 Celebrates people with disabilities and raises awareness of their experiences. Read more about why it’s time to wave the flag for Disability Pride.
• Birth Trauma Awareness Week | July
  👉 Raises awareness of the impact of birth trauma on mental health.

August

• Wear It Purple Day | Last Friday of August
  👉 Supports LGBTQ+ youth and promotes inclusivity.
• National Grief Awareness Day | 30 August
  👉 Raises awareness about the process of grief.
• International Overdose Awareness Day | 31 August
  👉 Focuses on preventing drug overdose deaths.

September

• R U OK Day | 9 September
  👉 Encourages people to check in on the well-being of others.
• World Suicide Prevention Day | 10 September
  👉 Raises awareness of suicide prevention.
• National Sober Day | 14 September
  👉 Promotes sobriety and healthy living. Read more about what it means to be sober curious.
• Black Maternal Mental Health Week | Last week of September
  👉 Dedicated to addressing disparities, examining root causes, and developing targeted support for Black mothers’ mental well-being.
• National Suicide Prevention Month | September
  👉 Highlights the importance of suicide prevention.
• National Recovery Month | September
  👉 Focuses on the importance of recovery from substance abuse.
• National Self-Care Awareness Month | September
  👉 Encourages the practice of self-care for mental health. Read more: 5 Ideas For Self-Care To Boost Your Mental Health.
• Mullets for Mental Health Month | September
  👉 A unique campaign to raise awareness and funds for mental health research.
• National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month | September
  👉 Raises awareness about addiction recovery.
• Pain Awareness Month | September
  👉 Focuses on raising awareness of chronic pain and its effects.

October

• Dermatillomania Awareness Day | 1 October
  👉 Raises awareness about compulsive skin-picking.
• Disabled Authors Day | 2 October
  👉 Celebrates books written by disabled authors, such as Emily Goodson and Ed Jackson.
• National Depression Screening Day | First full week of October
  👉 Promotes depression screening and awareness.
• Depression Awareness Day | First full week of October
  👉 Raises awareness of depression and its effects.
• National Day Without Stigma | 9 October
  👉 Promotes the reduction of stigma around mental illness.
• World Mental Health Day | 10 October
  👉 Highlights the importance of global mental health. Explore our brilliant mental health awareness speakers.
• World Menopause Day | 18 October
  👉 A global moment to raise awareness of menopause and the support available to women. Book Dr Angela Sharma for a frank, evidence-based session that meets your workforce where they are.
• International Stuttering Awareness Day | 22 October
  👉 Focuses on the challenges faced by people who stutter.
• National Depression Education and Awareness Month | October
  👉 Educates the public about depression.
• National Disability Employment Awareness Month | October
  👉 Promotes employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
• National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month | October
  👉 By promoting anti-bullying policies and encouraging open dialogue, it aims to reduce the emotional, social, and academic harm caused by bullying.
• ADHD Awareness Month | October
  👉 Raises awareness of ADHD and related challenges. Explore PepTalk’s top ADHD awareness speakers.
• National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month | October
  👉 This month by NAMA encourages screenings for depression and mental health. Get the help you deserve.
• Mental Illness Awareness Week | First week of October
  👉 Highlights the importance of mental illness education and support.
• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) Awareness Week | 1-7 October
  👉 Promotes awareness of borderline personality disorder.
• Trichotillomania Awareness Week | 1-7 October
  👉 Raises awareness of hair-pulling disorders.
• OCD Awareness Week | Second week of October
  👉 Brings understanding to obsessive-compulsive disorder.

November

• National Stress Awareness Day | First Wednesday of November
  👉 Raises awareness about stress and its impact on mental health. Explore the best stress management speakers.
• International Day Against Bullying and Violence | First Thursday of November
  👉 Focuses on preventing bullying and violence.
• Veterans Day | 11 November
  👉 Recognizes the mental health challenges faced by veterans. Explore the value of veteran and military speakers for events, ERGs, and mental health days. Learn how their stories inspire and promote awareness.
• World Kindness Day | 13 November
  👉 Encourages random acts of kindness to improve mental well-being.
• International Survivors of Suicide Day | Saturday before Thanksgiving
  👉 A day to honour and support those affected by suicide.
• Giving Tuesday | First Tuesday after Thanksgiving
  👉 Promotes giving back to communities and supporting mental health causes.
• Movember | November
  👉 Highlights men’s mental health, particularly through the Movember campaign. Book a fireside chat for your company with Justin ‘JC’ Coghlan, one of the co-founders of Movember.
• UK Self-Care Week | Week-long event in November
  👉 Promotes proactive self-care practices.

December

• International Day of Persons with Disabilities | 3 December
  👉 The UN raises awareness of the challenges and rights of people with disabilities.
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Awareness Month | December
  👉 Highlights the mental health effects of seasonal depression.

Of course, this is just a selection of dates! If we’ve missed any key days or events that matter to your HR, Culture, or People team, be sure to let us know on LinkedIn — we want to be as inclusive as possible. Please also note that dates were correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

💡 Would you like to mark any of these events with an expert speaker? Let us know, and we’ll find the perfect PepTalk expert for your organisation. Email us at hello@getapeptalk.com or send us a message via the chat. You can also call us on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US). Remember, it’s always a good time to get a PepTalk!