Monthly Mental Health Calendar plus Substance Abuse Events

Mental Health Calendar & Substance Abuse Awareness Events Calendar

January‘s Mental Health Calendar

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week is an annual, week-long, health observance that inspires dialogue about the science of drug use and addiction among youth. It provides an opportunity to bring together scientists, students, educators, healthcare providers, and community partners—to help promote the science so that we can enhance the prevention and understanding of substance misuse.

February‘s Mental Health Calendar

Random Acts of Kindness Day February and RAK Week

The purpose of Random Acts of Kindness Week (RAK Week) is to bring people together through deeds of kindness.

Eating Disorders Awareness Week February

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDA) is recognized every February as a way for people to connect with others impacted by eating disorders and share their experiences.

March‘s Mental Health Calendar

Self-Harm Awareness Month

Nearly 15 percent of teenagers and 4 percent of adults suffer from this mental health disorder. Self-harm is a non-suicidal form of harming oneself – cutting, burning, hitting themselves – so that their bodily pain mirrors their psychological distress.

National Inhalants & Poisons Awareness Week March 3^rd week in March

The goal is to raise public awareness about inhalant abuse, which affects users as young as 10 years old.

World Bipolar Day mental wellness month

About 6 million people in the United States alone are affected by Bipolar Disorder and it is not easy to diagnose. World Bipolar Day is recognized every year on March 30 to bring awareness to this usually misinterpreted mental health issue.

April‘s Mental Health Calendar

Alcohol Awareness Month

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) hosts an event to bring awareness to the serious effects that alcoholism has on individuals, families, and society

Stress Awareness Month

It’s the perfect time to learn about the ways stress can affect our health and what we can do to manage stress While a certain amount of stress is inevitable, it’s important to be aware of the signs of unhealthy stress.

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day April 27

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day seeks to provide a safe, convenient, and reliable means of disposing of pharmaceutical drugs, while also educating the public about the possibility of misuse of medications.

May‘s Mental Health Calendar

Mental Health Awareness Month

May has long been used to educate the people and reduce the stigma associated with mental health topics, so much so that the White House, in 2014, decreed May as National Mental Health Awareness Month. 

Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month

May has been recognized as Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month since 2008 to promote awareness around this disorder that impacts around 6% of the population.

National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week (2nd Week of May)

National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week seeks to raise awareness about the significance of children’s mental health and demonstrate that positive mental health is crucial to a child’s healthy development. 

 World No Tobacco Day (May 31st) mental wellness month

The World Health Organization and its partners utilize this day to highlight the adverse health consequences of tobacco usage and to foster approaches that will reduce the worldwide consumption of tobacco. 

June’s Mental Health Calendar

PTSD Awareness Month

June is PTSD Awareness Month, and the National Center for PTSD is leading the charge to educate people about this often-misunderstood condition. PTSD is the result of being a victim of, or even a witness to a traumatic event, such as violence, tragic accidents, and sexual assault and abuse among others.

Men’s Health Month

The entire month of June is dedicated to men’s health, with a focus on Men’s Health Week during the week leading up to Father’s Day.

August’s Mental Health Calendar

International Overdose Awareness Day August 31

International Overdose Awareness Day aims to honor the lives lost to overdose and reduce the stigma associated with a substance-related passing. 

September’s Mental Health Calendar

National Recovery Month

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) has facilitated this event for more than 30 years to raise the voices of those in recovery and increase awareness about how treatment can benefit those living with substance or mental health issues.

Pain Awareness Month

Chronic pain is a leading cause of disability in the U.S. In September, organizations devoted to pain treatment and reduction seek to educate the public about these challenging conditions and encourage newer and safer treatments.

National Suicide Prevention Week mental wellness month

One week is set aside to mark the preventable tragedy of suicide, the 10th highest cause of death in the U.S. according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

World Suicide Prevention Day mental wellness month

Every year, suicide claims the lives of 800,000 people around the world. In an effort to raise awareness about this global problem, the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have partnered to launch a worldwide campaign on September 10th. The goal of the campaign is to reduce the stigma associated with suicide and encourage people to seek help if they are feeling suicidal.

October’s Mental Health Calendar

Depression Awareness Month

This month-long awareness campaign provides the opportunity for people to realize they’re not alone in struggling with depression. It’s also a good time to learn about the root causes of depression and how to seek treatment.

National Substance Abuse Prevention Month

In 2011, Congress declared October as National Substance Abuse Awareness Month in order to educate and prevent youths from developing substance abuse issues.

Mental Illness Awareness Week

The first full week of October is designated by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and its partners to reduce the stigma and misunderstanding so often associated with mental illness. 

National Depression Screening Day mental wellness month

National Depression Screening Day has raised awareness and educated people about depression during mental illness week.

World Mental Health Day

October 10th is used by the World Federation for World Mental Health Day as a way to combat the seclusion, prejudice, and stigma associated with mental health conditions.

National Teen Driver Safety Week

The third week of October is an annual opportunity, promoted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to learn about teen driver safety issues. Vehicle crashes, sadly, are the top cause of death for those aged 15 to 19 so it’s critical to help stop these crashes in the first place.

Red Ribbon Week mental wellness month

October 23 to 31 is set aside each year to kick off a red ribbon movement that represents a dedication to raising awareness around the effects of drug abuse. It is sponsored by Drug-Free America and the National Family Partnership (NFP).

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Since 2010, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been hosting the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day each year, which is planned for the last Saturday in October. 

November’s Mental Health Calendar

Great American Smokeout mental wellness month

The third Thursday of every November has been an opportunity for people to join others in quitting their tobacco habits, whether it’s cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, or even vaping. This event is sponsored by the American Cancer Society.

December’s Mental Health Calendar

National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

This awareness event aims to raise awareness that, paired driving can be deadly and put strategies in place for people to make it home safely.