One of the biggest tools we have to fight health conditions is the power of human connection.
That’s why health awareness months, weeks, and days are so important: They rally us together to spread awareness and show support.
Educational and fundraising events are often held at these times to create a ripple effect of positivity and empowerment for not only those living with health conditions, but their loved ones, too.
Sure, you’ve heard about the bigger awareness campaigns like Breast Cancer Awareness Month and World AIDS Day.
But what about lesser-known ones, such as National Family Health History Day, Give Kids a Smile Day, or World Hand Hygiene Day?
Keep track of the events you’re passionate about — and discover some new ones, too — with this 2021 calendar of health awareness events.
- Cervical Health Awareness Month with the National Cervical Cancer Coalition
- National Birth Defects Prevention Month with the National Birth Defects Prevention Network
- National Blood Donor Month with organizations like the American Red Cross and America’s Blood Centers
- National Glaucoma Awareness Month with the Glaucoma Research Foundation
- National Radon Action Month with the Environmental Protection Agency
- National Stalking Awareness Month with the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, & Resource Center
- Thyroid Awareness Month with the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology
- AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month with the
National Eye Institute - American Heart Month with the
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) - International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month with organizations like the WIC Works Resource System and National Association of County and City Health Officials
- National Cancer Prevention Month with the American Institute for Cancer Research
- National Children’s Dental Health Month with the American Dental Association
- Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month with love is respect and TeenDVMonth.org
- African Heritage and Health Week (Feb. 1–7) with Old Ways Cultural Food Traditions
- World Cancer Day (Feb. 4) with the Union for International Cancer Control
- National “Wear Red” Day for women’s heart health (Feb. 5) with the American Heart Association
- Give Kids a Smile Day (Feb. 5) with the American Dental Association
- National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (Feb. 7) with the Minority HIV/AIDS Fund
- Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week (Feb. 7–14) with Mended Hearts
- National Donor Day (Feb. 14) with Donate Life America and Donor Alliance
- Heart Failure Awareness Week (Feb. 14–20) with the Heart Failure Society of America
- Condom Week (Feb. 14–21) with the National Coalition of STD Directors
- National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (Feb. 22–28) with the National Eating Disorders Association
- National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day (Feb. 22) with the Alliance for Aging Research
- Rare Disease Day 2021 (Feb. 28) with multiple organizations
- Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month with the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America
- National Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month with the National Hemophilia Foundation
- National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month with organizations like Prevent Cancer Foundation, the American Digestive Health Foundation, and the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable
- National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month with the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
- National Endometriosis Awareness Month with the Endometriosis Association
- National Kidney Month with the National Kidney Foundation
- National Nutrition Month with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month with the Brain Injury Association of America
- Save Your Vision Month with the American Optometric Association
- Trisomy Awareness Month with Trisomy.org
- National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (March 10) with the
Office on Women’s Health - World Kidney Day (March 11) with the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations
- National Poison Prevention Week (March 14–20) with the Health Resources & Services Administration
- National Sleep Awareness Week (March 14–20) with the National Sleep Foundation
- Patient Safety Awareness Week (March 14–20) with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement
- Brain Awareness Week (March 15–21) with the Dana Foundation
- World Sleep Day (March 19) with the World Sleep Society
- National Native American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (March
20) with multiple organizations - National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (March 22–28) with the
National Institute on Drug Abuse - World Tuberculosis Day (March 24) with
multiple organizations - American Diabetes Alert Day (March 26) with the
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - Purple Day for epilepsy awareness (March 26) with the Epilepsy Association of The Maritimes
- Alcohol Awareness Month with the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month with the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders
- National Autism Awareness Month with the National Autism Society
- National Child Abuse Prevention Month with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- National Donate Life Month with Donate Life America
- National Facial Protection Month with the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
- National Minority Health Month with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health
- National Parkinson’s Awareness Month with the Parkinson’s Foundation
- National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month with multiple organizations
- Occupational Therapy Month with the American Occupational Therapy Association
- Oral Cancer Awareness Month with the Oral Cancer Foundation
- Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month with the National Sexual Violence Resource Center
- STI Awareness Month with the American Sexual Health Association
- Stress Awareness Month with the Health Resource Network
- Testicular Cancer Awareness Month with the Men’s Health Network
- National Public Health Week (April 1–7) with the American Public Health Association
- World Health Day (April 7) with the
World Health Organization (WHO) - RAINN Day (April 8) with the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
- National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (April 10) with the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program
- National Youth Violence Prevention Week (April 12–16) with Sandy Hook Promise
- Every Kid Healthy Week (April 26–30) with Action for Healthy Kids
- National Infertility Awareness Week (April 18–24) with the National Infertility Association
- World Immunization Week (April 24–30) with the
CDC - National Infant Immunization Week (April 26–May 2) with the
CDC
- American Stroke Awareness Month with the
National Stroke Association - Arthritis Awareness Month with the Arthritis Foundation
- Better Hearing and Speech Month with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
- Global Employee Health and Fitness Month with the National Association for Health and Fitness
- Healthy Vision Month with the
National Eye Institute - Hepatitis Awareness Month with the
CDC - Lupus Awareness Month with the Lupus Foundation of America
- Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month with the Skin Cancer Foundation and the American Academy of Dermatology
- Mental Health Awareness Month with Mental Health America
- National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
- National Celiac Disease Awareness Month with the Celiac Disease Foundation
- National High Blood Pressure Education Month with the
CDC and theNHLBI - National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month with the National Osteoporosis Foundation
- National Physical Fitness and Sports Month with the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month with the CDC and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Older Americans Month with the Administration for Community Living
- National Physical Education and Sport Week (May 1–7) with Society of Health and Physical Education Educators
- North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (May 2–8) with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week (May 3–9) with the National Federation of Families
- World Hand Hygiene Day (May 5) with the
WHO - Food Allergy Awareness Week (May 9–15) with Food Allergy Research & Educator
- National Women’s Health Week (May 9–15) with the
Office on Women’s Health - National Stuttering Awareness Week (May 10–15) with the National Stuttering Association
- ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia International Awareness Day (May 12) with the Solve ME/CFS Initiative and the
CDC - HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (May 18) with the Minority HIV/AIDS Fund
- National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (May 19) with the Minority HIV/AIDS Fund
- World AiArthritis Day (May 20) with the International Foundation for Autoimmune & Autoinflammatory Arthritis
- World Preeclampsia Day (May 22) with Population Council and other organizations
- National Senior Health & Fitness Day (May 27)
- Don’t Fry Day (May 28) with National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention
- World No Tobacco Day (May 31) with the
WHO
- Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month with the Alzheimer’s Association
- Cataract Awareness Month with Prevent Blindness
- Men’s Health Month with multiple organizations
- Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month with the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America
- National Aphasia Awareness Month with the National Aphasia Association
- National Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month with the
CDC - National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month with the Coalition For Headache And Migraine Patients (CHAMP)
- National Safety Month with the National Safety Council
- National Scleroderma Awareness Month with the Scleroderma Foundation
- PTSD Awareness Month with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Scoliosis Awareness Month with the Scoliosis Research Society
- National Cancer Survivors Day (June 6) with the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation
- Family Health and Fitness Day (June 12) with the National Recreation and Park Association
- World Blood Donor Day (June 14) with the
WHO - Men’s Health Week (June 14–20) with multiple organizations
- Autistic Pride Day (June 18)
- World Sickle Cell Day (June 19) with the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America
- Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week (June 21–27) with the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults
- National HIV Testing Day (June 27) with multiple organizations
- Cord Blood Awareness Month with the Parent’s Guide to Cord Blood Foundation
- Healthy Vision Month with the
National Eye Institute - International Group B Strep Throat Awareness Month with Group B Strep International
- Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month with the Arthritis National Research Foundation
- National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month with AmeriFace and cleftAdvocate
- Sarcoma Awareness Month with the Sarcoma Foundation of America
- UV Safety Awareness Month with multiple organizations
- World Hepatitis Day (July 28) with the World Hepatitis Alliance
- Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month with the
National Eye Institute - Gastroparesis Awareness Month with the Gastroparesis Patient Association for Cures and Treatments
- National Breastfeeding Month with the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee
- National Immunization Awareness Month with the
CDC - Psoriasis Action Month with the National Psoriasis Foundation
- Summer Sun Safety Month with the
American Cancer Society - World Lung Cancer Day (Aug. 1) with multiple organizations
- World Breastfeeding Week (Aug. 1–7) with the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action
- National Health Center Week (Aug. 9–15) with multiple organizations
- Contact Lens Health Week (Aug. 19–23) with the
CDC - International Overdose Awareness Day (Aug. 31) with the Penington Institute
- Blood Cancer Awareness Month with multiple organizations
- Childhood Cancer Awareness Month with the American Childhood Cancer Organization
- Healthy Aging Month with Healthy Aging Magazine
- National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month with the American Foundation for Women’s Health and the
American Heart Association - National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month with the American College of Sports Medicine
- National Cholesterol Education Month with the CDC and American College of Cardiology
- National Food Safety Education Month with the
CDC and U.S. Department of Agriculture - National ITP Awareness Month with the International ITP Alliance
- National Pediculosis Prevention Month/Head Lice Prevention Month with the National Pediculosis Association
- National Recovery Month with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- National Sickle Cell Month with the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America
- National Yoga Awareness Month with multiple organizations
- Newborn Screening Awareness Month with the Health Resources and Services Administration
- Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month with the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
- Pain Awareness Month with the American Chronic Pain Association
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Month with the National Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Association
- Prostate Cancer Awareness Month with the Men’s Health Network and the Prostate Cancer Foundation
- Sepsis Awareness Month with the Sepsis Alliance
- Sexual Health Awareness Month with the American Sexual Health Association
- Sports Eye Safety Month with multiple organizations
- World Alzheimer’s Month with Alzheimer’s Disease International
- National Suicide Prevention Week (Sept. 5–11) with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and other organizations
- World Suicide Prevention Day (Sept. 10) with the International Association for Suicide Prevention
- National Folic Acid Awareness Week (Sept. 12–18) with the National Birth Defects Prevention Network
- National Celiac Disease Awareness Day (Sept. 13) with Beyond Celiac
- World Sepsis Day (Sept. 13) with multiple organizations
- National School Backpack Awareness Day (Sept. 15) with the American Occupational Therapy Association
- National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (Sept. 18) with The AIDS Institute
- Usher Syndrome Awareness Day (Sept. 18) with the Usher Syndrome Coalition
- Sport Purple for Platelets Day (Sept. 24) with the Platelet Disorder Support Association
- World Rabies Day (Sept. 28) with the Global Alliance for Rabies Control
- National Women’s Health and Fitness Day (Sept. 29) with the WIC Works Resource System
- World Heart Day (Sept. 29) with the World Heart Federation
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month with multiple organizations
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month with Break the Cycle and the Domestic Violence Awareness Project
- Eye Injury Prevention Month with the American Academy of Ophthalmology
- Health Literacy Month with multiple organizations
- Healthy Lung Month with the Lung Health Institute and other organizations
- Home Eye Safety Month with the American Academy of Ophthalmology
- Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month with the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- National ADHD Awareness Month with the ADHD Awareness Month Coalition
- National Bullying Prevention Month with PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center
- National Dental Hygiene Month with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and the Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program
- National Down Syndrome Awareness Month with the National Association for Down Syndrome and the National Down Syndrome Society
- National Medical Librarians Month with the Medical Library Association
- National Physical Therapy Month with the American Physical Therapy Association
- Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month with the Star Legacy Foundation
- Prenatal-onset GBS Disease Recognition Month with Group B Strep International
- Spina Bifida Awareness Month with the Spina Bifida Association
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month with the
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - Mental Illness Awareness Week (Oct. 3–9) with the National Alliance on Mental Illness
- Malnutrition Awareness Week (Oct. 4–8) with the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
- World Cerebral Palsy Day (Oct. 6) with multiple organizations
- National Depression Screening Day (Oct. 7) with Mental Health America
- World Mental Health Day (Oct. 10) with the
WHO - International Day of the Girl Child (Oct. 11) with the United Nations
- Bone and Joint Health National Action Week (Oct. 12–20) with the Bone and Joint Initiative USA
- Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day (Oct. 13) with the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network
- World Sight Day (Oct. 14) with the
WHO - Global Handwashing Day (Oct. 15) with the Global Handwashing Partnership
- Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day (Oct. 15) with the Star Legacy Foundation
- National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day (Oct. 15) with
multiple organizations - International Infection Prevention Week (Oct. 17–23) with the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
- World Food Day (Oct. 16) with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
- National Healthcare Quality Week (Oct. 17–23) with the National Association for Health Quality
- National Mammography Day (Oct. 18) with
multiple organizations - National Health Education Week (Oct. 18–22) with the Society for Public Health Education
- World Pediatric Bone and Joint Day (Oct. 19) with the Bone and Joint Initiative USA
- International Stuttering Awareness Day (Oct. 22) with the National Stuttering Association
- National Prescription Drug Take Back Day (Oct. 24) with the Drug Enforcement Administration
- Respiratory Care Week (Oct. 24–30) with the American Association for Respiratory Care
- World Psoriasis Day (Oct. 29) with the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations
- American Diabetes Month with the American Diabetes Association and other organizations
- Bladder Health Month with the Urology Care Foundation
- COPD Awareness Month with the
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and other organizations - Diabetic Eye Disease Month with the
National Eye Institute - Lung Cancer Awareness Month with the Lung Cancer Foundation of America, the American Lung Association, and other organizations
- National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month with the Alzheimer’s Association
- National Epilepsy Awareness Month with the Epilepsy Foundation
- National Family Caregivers Month with the Alzheimer’s Association
- National Healthy Skin Month with the American Academy of Dermatology
- National Hospice Palliative Care Month with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the National PACE Association
- National Stomach Cancer Awareness Month with No Stomach for Cancer and other organizations
- Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month with the Hirshberg Foundation
- Prematurity Awareness Month with the March of Dimes
- World Pneumonia Day (Nov. 12) with Stop Pneumonia
- World Prematurity Day (Nov. 17) with March of Dimes
- Great American Smokeout (Nov. 19) with the
American Cancer Society - International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day (Nov. 20) with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- GERD Awareness Week (Nov. 21–27) with the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders
- National Family Health History Day (Nov. 25) with the
CDC
- National Safe Toys and Gifts Month with Child & Family Services
- World AIDS Day (Dec. 1) with the National AIDS Trust
- National Handwashing Awareness Week (Dec. 1–7) with Henry the Hand Foundation
- International Day of Persons with Disabilities (Dec. 3) with the United Nations
- National Influenza Vaccination Week (Dec. 6–12) with the
CDC