Health observances are days, weeks, or months devoted to promoting particular health concerns.

Health professionals, teachers, community groups, and others can use these special times to sponsor health promotion events, stimulate awareness of health risks, or focus on disease prevention. Materials available from sponsoring organizations range from a single flyer to packets of promotional materials.

Information appearing in this document does not represent an endorsement by the Office of Minority Health or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which do not have any role in naming national health observances.

For more information, please contact the sponsoring organization directly.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Affairs Contacts

May 2009

1. American Stroke Month
   http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3026377
   
   
2. Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
   http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=10&sub=99&cont=457
   
   
3. Better Sleep Month
   http://www.bettersleep.org
   
   
4. Clean Air Month
   http://www.lungusa.org
   
   
5. Healthy Vision Month
   http://www.healthyvision2010.nei.nih.gov/hvm
   
   
6. Hepatitis Awareness Month
   http://www.hepfi.org
   
   
7. Lupus Awareness Month
   http://www.lupus.org
   
   
8. Lyme Disease Awareness Month
   http://www.lyme.org
   
   
9. Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month
   http://www.aad.org
   
   
10. Mental Health Month
    http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/may
    
    
11. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Month
    http://www.mcs-america.org
    
    
12. National Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month
    http://www.lesturnerals.org
    
    
13. National Arthritis Awareness Month
    http://www.arthritis.org
    
    
14. National Bike Month
    http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bikeMonth
    
    
15. National Cancer Research Month
    http://www.aacr.org/home/public--media/public-policy--legislative-affairs/national-cancer-research-Month.aspx
    
    
16. National Celiac Disease Awareness Month
    http://www.americanceliac.org
    
    
17. National High Blood Pressure Education Month
    http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov
    
    
18. National Neurofibromatosis Month
    http://www.ctf.org
    
    
19. National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
    http://www.nof.org/awareness2/annual.htm
    
    
20. National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
    http://www.fitness.gov
    
    
21. National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
    http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/ntppm.htm
    
    
22. Older Americans Month
    http://www.aoa.gov
    
    
23. Sturge-Weber Awareness Month
    http://www.sturge-weber.org
    
    
24. Tuberous Sclerosis Awareness Month
    http://www.tsalliance.org
    
    
25. Ultraviolet Awareness Month
    http://www.preventblindness.org
    
    
26. May 3 - 9
    North American Occupational Safety and Health Week
    http://www.asse.org/newsroom/naosh09
    
    
27. May 4
    Melanoma Monday
    http://www.aad.org
    
    
28. May 6 - 12
    National Mental Health Counseling Week
    http://www.amhca.org
    
    
29. May 9
    Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Awareness Day
    http://www.cdlsusa.org
    
    
30. May 10 - 16
    Food Allergy Awareness Week
    http://www.foodallergy.org/FAAW/index.html
    
    
31. May 10 - 16
    National Alcohol- and Other Drug-Related Birth Defects Week
    http://www.ncadd.org
    
    
32. May 10 - 16
    National Women's Health Week
    http://www.womenshealth.gov/whw
    
    
33. May 11 - 17
    National Stuttering Awareness Week
    http://www.stutteringhelp.org
    
    
34. May 11 - 15
    National Neuropathy Week
    http://www.neuropathy.org
    
    
35. May 11
    National Women's Check-up Day
    http://www.womenshealth.gov/whw/about/checkupDay.cfm
    
    
36. May 12
    Sex Differences in Health Awareness Day
    http://www.womenshealthresearch.org
    
    
37. May 18 - 24
    Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week
    http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/rwi_prevention_Week.htm
    
    
38. May 18
    HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
    http://www.niaid.nih.gov/news/events/HVAD
    
    
39. May 19
    Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Day
    http://www.22q13.org
    
    
40. May 20
    National Employee Health and Fitness Day
    http://www.physicalfitness.org/nehf.html
    
    
41. May 24 - 30
    Older American's Mental Health Week
    http://www.owl-national.org/Welcome.html
    
    
42. May 31
    World No Tobacco Day
    http://www.who.int/tobacco/wntd/en/
    
    

This information is in the public domain, and duplication is encouraged. Please provide an appropriate credit line in any reproduction of this information, whether print or electronic: "Source: 2009 National Health Observances, National Health Information Center, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC."