National Health observances (NHOs) are special days, weeks, and months dedicated to raising awareness about important health topics. By highlighting these health observances, organizations can offer their employees an easy and simple way to learn more about their health and well-being. Additionally, companies can reinforce and strengthen the impact of their wellness initiatives by aligning the elements of their wellness programs with the topics and themes being observed each month.
Check out Wellable’s 2023 health observances calendar below for a complete list of the health topics to be covered this year.
Health Awareness And Observances
January:
Cervical Health Awareness Month - National Cervical Cancer Coalition
National Blood Donor Month - American Red Cross
Thyroid Awareness Month - American Association of Clinical Endocrinology
National Glaucoma Awareness Month - Glaucoma Research Foundation
Jan 3 – International Mind-Body Wellness Day
Jan 22 – Celebration of Life Day
Jan 24 – National Compliment Day
Jan 27 – National Fun at Work Day
February:
American Heart Month - National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Cancer Prevention Month - American Institute for Cancer Research
Feb 4 – World Cancer Day - Union for International Cancer Control
Feb 3 – National Wear Red Day (for women’s heart health) - American Heart Association
Feb 14 – National Donor Day - Donate Life America
Feb 27 - March 5 – National Eating Disorders Week - National Eating Disorders Association
March:
National Nutrition Month - Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
National Kidney Month - National Kidney Foundation
March 3 – Employee Appreciation Day
March 4 – World Obesity Day
March 9 – World Kidney Day - International Society of Nephrology
March 12-18 – National Sleep Awareness Week - National Sleep Foundation
March 17 – World Sleep Day - World Sleep Society
March 13-19 – Brain Awareness Week - Dana Foundation
March 20 – International Day of Happiness - Action For Happiness
March 20-26 – National Drugs and Alcohol Facts Week - National Institute on Drug Abuse
March 28 – American Diabetes Alert Day - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
April:
Women’s Eye Health & Safety Month - Prevent Blindness
Alcohol Awareness Month - National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
Stress Awareness Month - Health Resource Network
Financial Literacy Month - Jump$tart Coalition
National Occupational Therapy Month - American Occupational Therapy Association
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month - International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders
National Minority Health Month – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health
April 3-9 – National Public Health Week - American Public Health Association
April 7 – World Health Day - World Health Organization (WHO)
April 22 – Earth Day
April 24-30 – World Immunization Week - CDC
April 28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work - United Nations
May:
Mental Health Awareness Month - Mental Health America
Employee Health & Fitness Month - National Association for Health and Fitness
Healthy Vision Month - National Eye Institute
National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month – Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
May 5 – World Hand Hygiene Day - WHO
May 14-20 – National Women’s Health Week - Office on Women’s Health
May 31 – National Senior Health & Fitness Day
May 31 – World No Tobacco Day - WHO
June:
PTSD Awareness Month - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
June 10 – Family Health and Fitness Day - National Recreation and Park Association
June 14 – World Blood Donor Day - WHO
June 19 – World Sickle Cell Day - Sickle Cell Disease Association of America
July:
UV Safety Month - American Academy of Ophthalmology (The CDC has a more comprehensive article on Sun Safety)
August:
Immunization Awareness Month - CDC
Summer Sun Safety Month - American Cancer Society
Aug 1 – World Lung Cancer Day - American Lung Association
September:
Healthy Aging Month - Healthy Aging Magazine
National Cholesterol Education Month - American College of Cardiology
National Recovery Month - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Food Safety Education Month - CDC
October:
Breast Cancer Awareness Month - National Breast Cancer Foundation
Health Literacy Month - Institute for Healthcare Advancement
Dental Hygiene Month - American Dental Hygienists’ Association
November:
American Diabetes Month - American Diabetes Association
Lung Cancer Awareness Month – Lung Cancer Foundation of America
December:
National Safe Toys and Gifts Month - Child & Family Services
Dec 1 - World AIDS Day - National AIDS Trust
Dec 1-7 - National Handwashing Awareness Week - Henry the Hand Foundation
Dec 6-12 - National Influenza Vaccination Week - CDC