Some very important days came right before I set up this blog... here is a list.
Month of September Awareness (the top 3 are in the UK, the rest in the US, and the last is worldwide):
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Arthritis Awareness Month
Muscular Dystrophy Month
National Sickle Cell Month
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
National Cholesterol Education Month
Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month
Reye's Syndrome Awareness Week
Children's Eye Health and Safety Month
National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month
Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month
Here are some specific awareness days and weeks:
National Asthma Week Australia (1-7th)
National Stroke Week Australia (15-21st)
Migraine Awareness Week UK (7-13th)
National Eczema Week UK (15-21st)
Suicide Prevention Week US (2-8th)
WORLDWIDE:
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Awareness Day (9th)
Suicide Awareness Day (10th)
Lymphoma Awareness Day (15th)
World Alzheimer's Day (21st)
Ataxia Awareness Day (25th)
World Heart Day (28th)
The big ones on here for us are (though these are all important) suicide prevention and FAS. Both are very preventable, although suicide may seem like the last resort, the need for it can be prevented. If YOU are suicidal, even passively suicidal (dreaming of killing yourself without a solid plan) GET HELP. Talk to a friend, call a hot line, go to a SAFE place. Sometimes the "normal" places to go, like parents, school counselors, or even therapists are not safe in your eyes, and if a person does not seem "safe" to you, look for someone else.
Here are a couple of links for if you are suicidal,
or if you are emotionally distressed and want to talk,
here are phone numbers.
If you know someone you think is suicidal, suddenly happy after a depression with no reason, giving everything away, making plans for "leaving" or in case of death, or MENTIONS it, even jokingly, TAKE IT SERIOUSLY! Ask them directly, do not beat around the bush. Talk to them about their feelings, and who they would feel safe talking to (and teens do not try to keep it to yourselves, get an adult- even though they seem like the enemy).
FAS can be prevented easily... do not drink when pregnant, PERIOD. Or smoke, or do any type of drugs prescription or not. Everything you take into your body is AMPLIFIED and passed through your blood into your baby's blood. They are BORN behind the game, and have to deal with a lot of crap.
Sorry for the double posts today, but serious information.
A and K.
