August 2017 Mental Health Awareness

Monday, July 31, 2017 94 Comments


 Special days & weeks in August

Along with Advocacy & Awareness
for mental health related issues
(and a calendar for the month!)

by Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, CTP, CMC, ACT, MCC, SCAC
Part of the ADD/ADHD Cormidities series

WE are the cure. Found HERE

 

Online Marketing Gurus extol the effectiveness of piggy-backing posts onto particular events – how about one or several of the ones below?
They make GREAT, positive writing prompts!

Mark your blogging calendars!

Many days of the year have been set aside every month to promote awareness or advocacy of an issue, illness, disability, or special-needs related cause.

In addition to a calendar for the current month, each Awareness post attempts to offer a list highlighting important days and weeks that impact and intersect with mental health challenges — reminders for health problems that intersect, exacerbate or create additional problems with cognition, mood, memory, follow-through and attention management.

If I’ve missed anything, please let me know in a comment so that I can add it to the list below.

I pray that 2017 is the year
when EVERYONE becomes aware of
the crying need for upgraded mental health Awareness —
and FUNDING – so that things begin to change rapidly.

Stay tuned for more articles about Executive Functioning struggles and management throughout the year (and check out the Related Posts for a great many already published).

Remember: If you write (or have written) an article that adds content to any of these categories,
feel free to leave a link in the comment section and I will add it to the post’s Related Content.

IMPORTANT: All links were active at the time I created this document, and I tried to limit the number of “.gov” sites and sites with federally funded content.

Since the American president is busily removing government content that doesn’t support his agenda, I can’t promise that off-site links will still be active when you click – or how much of the original content will remain.

Don’t forget that you can always check out the sidebar
for a reminder of how links work on this site, they’re subtle ==>

Awareness and Advocacy Events for August
(intersecting with Mental Health & cognitive challenges)

National Immunization Awareness Month (USA)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]
National Public Health Information Coalition [NPHIC]

National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is an annual observance held in August to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages.

NIAM was established to encourage people of all ages to make sure they are up to date on the vaccines recommended for them.

Communities have continued to use the month each year to raise awareness about the vitally important role vaccines play in preventing serious, sometimes deadly, diseases and pandemics.

Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
HAP
YourSightMatters

Your kids struggle to focus cognitively when they’re struggling visually. Get them really ready for school this year. Get their eyes checked!

Make an appointment to get your own eyes checked as well.

 

World-wide MedicAlert Awareness Month
Medicalert.org

Psoriasis Awareness Month
National Psoriasis Foundation

The National Psoriasis Foundation [NPF] is committed to forming a coalition of Psoriatic Psuperheroes to create a movement to spread the word that psoriasis isn’t contagious — awareness IS!

Throughout the month, they’ll be sharing resources for treating and managing psoriatic disease designed to empower everyone affected to take control of their health. Each week, they’ll unlock a new challenge to test Psoriasis knowledge and provide everything needed to live a full, vibrant and active life.

 

Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Organization
Cure SMA

SMA (spinal muscular atrophy) is the number one genetic cause of death for infants, caused by a mutation in the survival motor neuron gene 1 [SMN1]. It affects approximately 1 in 10,000 babies, and about 1 in every 50 Americans is a genetic carrier.  It can affect any race or gender.

In a healthy person, the SMN1 gene produces a protein that is critical to the function of the nerves that control our muscles, affecting the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord.

Without that protein, those nerve cells cannot properly function and eventually die, leading to debilitating and often fatal muscle weakness, taking away the ability to walk, eat, or breathe.

Thanks to the dedication of the SMA community and the ingenuity of their researchers, we now have the first-ever approved treatment that targets the underlying genetics of SMA. Great! CLOSE – and more is needed.

 

World PVNH Disorder Awareness Day,
August 7
PVNH Support and Awareness
NIH on PVNH

A mutation in a gene referred to as filaminA [FLNA] is a common cause of PVNH [Periventricular Nodular Heterotopia], a disorder of brain cell migration during brain development — also called PNH in medical journals sometimes referred to as grey matter heterotopia.

In normal brain development, neurons form in the periventricular region, located around fluid-filled ventricles near the brain’s center, then migrate outward to form six onion-like layers. In PVNH, some neurons fail to migrate to their proper position and instead form clumps of gray matter around the ventricles.

The syndrome was first described by the late Peter Huttenlocher, MD, and the gene was identified by Christopher Walsh, MD, PhD, of Boston Children’s Hospital, but the prevalence of PVNH is unknown.

Boys with the mutation die early. PVNH usually becomes evident in girls when seizures appear, frequently not until their teenage years; other neurologic findings such as various learning disabilities are not uncommon. Joint, pulmonary and gastrointestinal complications have been reported, but one of the most life-threatening complications for these young patients is cardiovascular disease.

Related Post: PVNH: Could this genetic disorder have a ‘butterfly’ effect?

 

Worldwide Breastfeeding Week
1 – 7 August 2017
worldbreastfeedingweek.org
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action

“Breastfeeding is not only the cornerstone of a child’s healthy development; it is also the foundation of a country’s development.”
– pdf download of UNICEF & WHO WBW Message

 

National Minority Donor Awareness Week
Aug.1 – Aug. 7 2017
Gift of Life

National Minority Donor Awareness DAY
Tuesday, Aug.1, 2017

As part of National Minority Donor Awareness Week, National Minority Donor Awareness Day is celebrated on August 1.   It was created to increase awareness of the need, especially among minorities, for more organ, eye and tissue donors.

Because some diseases of the kidney, heart, lung, pancreas and liver are found more frequently in racial and ethnic minority populations than in the general population, minorities are much more likely than Caucasians to need life-saving transplants.

More than 100,000 men, women and children in the United States alone are waiting for a life-saving organ, and half of those on the waiting list are minority patients.

 

National Dog Day
August 26
ABOUT National Dog Day
Canine Culpability

Keep an eye out for my guest-blogging Shih Tzu TinkerToy‘s article about this day.

 

© 2017, all rights reserved
Check bottom of Home/New to find out the “sharing rules”
(reblogs always okay, and much appreciated)

Other links to other posts and lists can be found below (in the Related Content section at the bottom of the majority of my articles), with my appreciation for improving your own Awareness, with hopes that you will help me SPREAD THE WORD!

Thanks again to Terri Mauro, Parenting Special Needs Expert from the VeryWell.com site
for many of the links that formed the genesis of the original Awareness articles.

As always, if you want notification of new articles in this Series – or any new posts on this blog – give your email address to the nice form on the top of the skinny column to the right. (You only have to do this once, so if you’ve already asked for notification about a prior series, you’re covered for this one too). STRICT No Spam Policy

IN ANY CASE, do stay tuned.
There’s a lot to know, a lot here already, and a lot more to come – in this Series and in others.
Get it here while it’s still free for the taking.

Want to work directly with me? If you’d like some coaching help with anything that came up while you were reading this Series (one-on-one couples or group), click HERE for Brain-based Coaching with mgh, with a contact form at its end (or click the E-me link on the menubar at the top of every page). Fill out the form, submit, and an email SOS is on its way to me; we’ll schedule a call to talk about what you need. I’ll get back to you ASAP (accent on the “P”ossible!)

You might also be interested in some of the following articles
available right now – on this site and elsewhere.

For links in context: run your cursor over the article above and the dark grey links will turn dark red;
(subtle, so they don’t pull focus while you read, but you can find them to click when you’re ready for them)
— and check out the links to other Related Content in each of the articles themselves —

Related articles right here on ADDandSoMuchMore.com

Related Content ’round the ‘net

BY THE WAY: Since ADDandSoMuchMore.com is an Evergreen site, I revisit all my content periodically to update links — when you link back, like, follow or comment, you STAY on the page. When you do not, you run a high risk of getting replaced by a site with a more generous come-from.

Filed under A1b. ADD Comorbids etc., E2. Making a Difference, E2c. Community Support, E2cb. Awareness Posts Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

About Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, MCC, SCAC
Award-winning ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching field co-founder; [life] Coaching pioneer -- Neurodiversity Advocate, Coach, Mentor & Poster Girl -- Multi-Certified -- 25 years working with EFD [Executive Functioning disorders] and struggles in hundreds of people from all walks of life. I developed and delivered the world's first ADD-specific coach training curriculum: multi-year, brain-based, and ICF Certification tracked. In addition to my expertise in ADD/EF Systems Development Coaching, I am known for training and mentoring globally well-informed ADD Coach LEADERS with the vision to innovate, many of the most visible, knowledgeable and successful ADD Coaches in the field today (several of whom now deliver highly visible ADD coach trainings themselves). For almost a decade, I personally sponsored and facilitated seven monthly, virtual and global, no-charge support and information groups The ADD Hours™ - including The ADD Expert Speakers Series, hosting well-known ADD Professionals who were generous with their information and expertise, joining me in my belief that "It takes a village to educate a world." I am committed to being a thorn in the side of ADD-ignorance in service of changing the way neurodiversity is thought about and treated - seeing "a world that works for everyone" in my lifetime. Get in touch when you're ready to have a life that works BECAUSE of who you are, building on strengths to step off that frustrating treadmill "when 'wanting to' just doesn't get it DONE!"

94 Responses to August 2017 Mental Health Awareness

  1. Pingback: August 26th is National Dog Day | ADD . . . and-so-much-more

  2. Laina Eartharcher says:
    Thursday, August 17, 2017 at 1:55 am

    Wow!! Excellent list, Madelyn 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼. Thank you so much for this 😊❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. jade0207 says:
    Monday, August 7, 2017 at 7:48 am

    Wow, I was just going to go make a calendar of my own after this. Thank you so much for making it for me! Like really, you saved me time. Thank you so much!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Christy B says:
    Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 2:37 pm

    Look at all of these “awareness” days! Madelyn, your site is a treasure trove of info 🙂 I like that mental health is getting more of a spotlight in the world – let’s work toward helping people, one day at a time xx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. robbiesinspiration says:
    Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 12:14 pm

    Lots of lovely international awareness days. Looking forward to Tink’s post on 26 August.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. dgkaye says:
    Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 6:37 pm

    You are a tireless advocate for so many my friend. I don’t know how you keep track of all these wonderful causes, but thank you, as I know so many are grateful for your announcements. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Tina Frisco says:
    Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 5:42 pm

    Madelyn, this is an impressive post. I had no idea. Now I hope you won’t be offended by what I’m about to say … As I soberly read through your list and came to the final entry, I couldn’t help chuckling. National Dog Day is right up there with the other big guns! Please don’t tell Tink, because if I had my way, every day would be National Dog Day 🙂 ♥

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
    Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 2:46 pm

    Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
    Madelyn Griffith-Haynie reminds us that August is National Health month in many countries with various organisations bringing their specific issues into the spotlight. These include Mental Health Awareness, Children’s Eyesight, Psoriasis, Breastfeeding and several others.. Head over and mark them in your calendar. Help spread the word. #recommended

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, MCC, SCAC says:
      Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 3:56 pm

      Thanks again, Sally, for helping to spread Awareness. We ALL thank you.
      xx,
      mgh

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
        Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 6:06 pm

        Great post and all worthy awareness projects. xxx

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
        • Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, MCC, SCAC says:
          Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 10:15 pm

          My goal, besides making people Aware of these causes, is to spread awareness that it is REALLY short-sighted to propose budget cuts for bio-medical research.

          I’m hoping the next election everyone who is Aware will vote for politicians who understand the link between research funding and public health.
          xx,
          mgh

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
          • Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
            Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 5:48 am

            Unfortunately they don’t think 10, 20 or 30 years ahead. I remember when the pill first came out and was handed out like sweeties. I was 19 and about to get married. Three weeks after starting the pill I suffered a clot in my groin and nearly died. 50+ years later we are still finding out the long term effects and with drugs they are handing out today en masse such as statins we will be reaping the consequences at some point. They believe if they can put a plaster on one condition now it will save them down the line with heart disease or cancer but all drugs have side effects that might result in them anyway. Better to really tackle the life style issues now with better education and a clamp down on industrial foods. anyway on my soap box again.. xxxx

            Like

            Reply
            • Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, MCC, SCAC says:
              Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 12:48 pm

              I know that soapbox climb well, Sally. 🙂 Many formerly “approved” drugs had to be yanked from the market through the years *after* many extreme side-effects were publicized – others will be and still others need to be. I’m sure you are aware of how FEW women were in the study that led to the approval of the original pill (and I’ve since read somewhere that one or two actually DIED and were never autopsied, tho’ I’ve never taken the time to verify that).

              To me, many of societies “ills” seem to be the fallout from increasing corporate capitalism – focused on money to the exclusion of much else. I could drag out my agribusiness and GMO soapbox in a heartbeat – not that it ever changes much of anything (except for putting me in a lousy mood – lol). I do my best not to support them with my dollars. THAT I can control.

              I am so glad you survived your clot – so scary that you had to go through that. I had no significant problems being on the pill for a few years in my 20s, but BOY did things get screwy for a while once I stopped. Fortunately, my body righted itself in shortly over a year and there have been no long-term effects. Sad we can’t trust what our government agencies tell us, but experience has taught us that we really can’t.

              You are SO right that it seems best to look after our health with the things we CAN control (sleep, eating health-promoting foods, exercise, etc.) and researching the suggestions we come across (vs. taking anything our doctors, etc. suggest without checking them out personally) – and focusing on gratitude for every single healthy day!
              xx,
              mgh

              Liked by 1 person

            • Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
              Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 1:01 pm

              With you all the way Madelyn. Like you I have seen far too many people who have drunk the coolade and are convinced that doctors and government elected health officials must be right and are now suffering the consequences. Anyway we do what we can for ourselves and hopefully help others make informed decisions too. xxxxx

              Liked by 1 person

            • Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, MCC, SCAC says:
              Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 1:21 pm

              Yep. A long-time friend of mine just got out of the hospital Monday after an infection in his big toe put him there (he’s diabetic, among other things). He fired his “famous” foot doctor (from his panel of 6 for various health concerns) because this doctor advocated for his newly developed surgery procedure on the toe, with possible amputation looming.

              My friend went with IV antibiotics while they waited for a culture to determine if, in fact, osteomyelitis was involved (he discovered that the scans frequently return false positives – scar tissue, etc).

              Not a sign of it – and signs of the infection were gone as well. It was not as simple as I make it sound, but my point is that, had he gone along with doctor #1, things would now be MUCH worse and he might have been walking with a cane for the rest of his life.

              That’s a close-to-home example of exactly what you have noted – except that my friend chose to go another way. THANK GOODNESS!
              xx,
              mgh

              Liked by 1 person

            • Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
              Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 3:12 pm

              Wow Madelyn.. just goes to show.. so pleased that it did not come to the worst scenario.. frightening. hugs xx

              Liked by 1 person

            • Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, MCC, SCAC says:
              Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 3:18 pm

              I was thrilled to get THAT phone call, let me tell you!
              xx,
              mgh

              Liked by 1 person

  9. Sharon, Leadership2Mommyship says:
    Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 9:28 am

    This is really wonderful Madelyn! I will keep this in mind. I may in the future write a post about Veterans and suicide. Thank you for spreading awareness. We often do not concern ourselves with issues we have not experienced.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. koolkosherkitchen says:
    Monday, July 31, 2017 at 12:40 pm

    You’re doing such a great job posting these calendars every month – thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  11. -Eugenia says:
    Monday, July 31, 2017 at 10:14 am

    Busy month ahead, Madelyn.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. usathroughoureyes says:
    Monday, July 31, 2017 at 10:07 am

    Wow so many things to be aware of isn’t there.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. watchingthedaisies says:
    Monday, July 31, 2017 at 9:36 am

    Many thanks Madelyn. I look forward to your National Dog Day post.

    Like

    Reply
  14. Lucy Brazier says:
    Monday, July 31, 2017 at 2:02 am

    Wonderful awareness raising as ever, my friend. I am especially looking forward to Tink’s post! Big hugs to you both.
    xx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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