We all know about bank holidays, such as New Year’s Eve, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day, but did you know that there are also mental health holidays each year? Each month offers overall awareness topics and specific observation dates. Some are the same day each year, while others shift with the current year’s week span. I’ve listed them all out below!
*This list contains dates for the year 2020*
January
Mental Wellness Month, National Mentoring Month
- 20-24: No Name Calling Week
- 24: National Compliment Day
February
International Boost Self-Esteem Month
- 3-7: National School Counseling Week
- 16-23: Random Acts of Kindness Week
- 17: National Acts of Kindness Day
- 23-29: National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
March
Self Harm Awareness Month, American National Nutrition Month
- 1: Self-Injury Awareness Day
- 13: World Sleep Day
- 20: International Day of Happiness
- 30: World Bipolar Day
April
Stress Awareness Month, National Minority Health Month
- 7: World Health Day
- 9: National Alcohol Screening Day
- 18: National Stress Awareness Day
May
Mental Health Awareness Month, National Maternal Depression Awareness Month, Women’s Health Month, Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month
- 4-10: Screen Free Week
- 6-12: National Mental Health Counseling Week
- 9: National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day
- 11-17: National Prevention Week
June
National PTSD Awareness Month, Men’s Health Month
- 1: National Say Something Nice Day
- 15-21: National Men’s Health Week
- 27: National PTSD Awareness Day
July
National Minority Mental Health Month
- 24: International Self-Care Day
August
- 2: Friendship Day
- 4-10: National Health Center Week
September
National Suicide Prevention Month, National Recovery Month
- 6-12: National Suicide Prevention Week
- 10: World Suicide Prevention Day
October
National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month, Health Literacy Month, ADHD Awareness Month, Bullying Prevention Month
- 4-10: Mental Illness Awareness Week
- 8: National Depression Screening Day
- 10: World Mental Health Day
- 11-17: OCD Awareness Day
November
National Family Caregivers Month, National Gratitude Month
- 6: International Stress Awareness Day
- 13: World Kindness Day
- 21: International Survivors of Suicide Day
- 25: National Family Health History Day
December
National Stress-Free Family Holidays Month
- 3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities
One observation day that I’m especially looking forward to is World Bipolar Day on March 30. Read my “I’m a Millennial with Bipolar Disorder” post to gain more insight about the disorder!