October Healthcare Observances: Breast Cancer Awareness and Health Literacy Month

October ushers in cooler weather, beautiful fall colors, and the spooky, moody decor of Halloween, but there’s more to celebrate this month besides the seasonal excitement. 

This October, there are several important health topics to learn about. Each observance helps raise awareness for healthcare workers and illness survivors and warns about the dangers of curable or preventable conditions. 

We want to help you learn more about October’s healthcare observances, including Health Literacy Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and World Mental Health Day. We’ll also touch on some lesser-known but equally important observances.   

Health Literacy Month

Health literacy is a complex subject that involves understanding important healthcare topics, conditions, and treatment plans. Health literacy is essential among patients, loved ones, and healthcare workers. It's vital for everyone involved in a healthcare decision to understand what's going on and the implications of their health decisions. 

However, we don't live in a perfect world, and there are often misunderstandings, miscommunications, and misinformation within the healthcare community. The goals of Health Literacy Month are to help reduce those problems and help everyone involved learn more about healthcare. 

There are so many ways to improve health literacy, and many hospitals and healthcare centers host regular events, literacy programs, and meetings to help inform both healthcare workers and patients. 

In the month of October, these events are even more common in hopes of creating a better environment for everyone involved. In addition, you can also use the hashtag #healthliteracymonth to discover more events in your area, share your story online, or simply connect with other health literacy advocates. 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

It’s estimated around ⅛ of women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives; luckily, breast cancer is curable if caught early. 

This October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month; you can show your support by wearing pink, donating, supporting a loved one with breast cancer directly, and participating in group events like breast cancer walks. 

However, by far, the most important thing you can do is learn more about breast cancer, including the warning signs and when you should get screened. The risk of breast cancer increases with age; however, younger adults can develop breast cancer as well. 

Other factors like family health history and lifestyle choices can also increase your risk of developing breast cancer. One of the best things you can do for yourself is keep track of what your “normal” or typical health feels like and make sure you’re checking for lumps and getting screened as regularly as your doctor recommends. 

World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day is a vital observance for people all over the globe, celebrated on October 10th, 2024. It’s estimated around ⅛ of people worldwide are coping with life with a mental health illness or concern. 

This healthcare observance aims to raise support and advocate for individuals struggling with mental health. Globally, we’re becoming more aware and accepting of mental health issues, but we still have a long way to go. 

This year’s theme is “It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace.” This theme’s goal is to help create healthier and happier working environments, allowing for employees to set work boundaries and maintain a healthy work-life balance. 

But World Mental Health Day also celebrates mental health workers and individuals who are surviving each day despite their mental and emotional struggles. If you’re looking for a way to show your support on October 10th, reach out to loved ones you know are struggling. It may also be helpful to donate to mental health outreach organizations or spread awareness with social media posts. 

Other October Healthcare Campaigns

In addition to the three October healthcare month holidays discussed above, there are several more equally essential awareness months and key days: 

• Physical Therapy Month. Physical therapists are essential healthcare workers, especially for older adults. The goal of this observance is to raise support and appreciation for physical therapists and demonstrate the incredible benefits of physical therapy. 

• Audiology Awareness Month. It’s estimated that around 28.8 million Americans suffer from some degree of hearing loss and may benefit from hearing aids. Poor hearing has also been linked to increased fall and dementia risk. If you suspect you have a hearing problem make sure to get proper medical attention as soon as you can. 

• Healthy Lung Month. Did you know that in 2024, scientists predicted 234,580 would develop lung cancer? Healthy Lung Month’s goal is to encourage people to keep their lungs healthy by exercising regularly, staying away from smoking, and avoiding common air pollutants. 

• Dental Hygiene Month. Oral health is essential no matter how old you are. You can observe this holiday by staying on top of your dental hygiene and scheduling a dentist appointment if you haven’t had one recently. 

• Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month. Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, impacting 356,000 each year.  It’s a prevalent issue that can affect anyone at any age. This observance aims to raise awareness and support those who have lost someone to sudden cardiac arrest. 

• World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (October 12th). Hospice care aims to relieve individuals of their pain and focus on quality of life and time with loved ones at the end of life. World Hospice and Palliative Care Day aims to increase visibility and access to this compassionate care worldwide. 

• National Check Your Meds Day (October 21st). Many older Americans take prescription medication to survive; however, just because you got your medicine from a doctor doesn’t always mean it’s safe. Expired medications can be less effective and cause side effects; in addition, mixing medications with certain things like alcohol or other prescription drugs can have profound negative impacts. The goal of this observance is to encourage people to get in touch with their pharmacist to ensure their medications are safe.

Showing Your Support This October

Between Breast Cancer Awareness and Health Literacy Month, October shines as a month for assessing our health and paying attention to any warning signs within ourselves and our loved ones. 

There are several ways to show your support for each observance, including researching more about specific conditions, sharing your story online, donating to healthcare campaigns, and supporting a struggling loved one or friend.