Physiotherapy Month
It is an opportunity to recognize the work that physiotherapists do for their patients and community. This year it’s about highlighting the many ways the profession can enable and support healthy aging. #nationalphysiomonth2021
Speech and Hearing Month of May
Many of us take our ability to communicate for granted, but the ability to speak, hear and be heard is much more vital to our everyday lives than most of us realize. For those who have difficulty communicating, everyday interactions can pose significant challenges. A communication disorder may prevent an individual from performing well at work, asking for help, hearing instructions at school or even saying ‘I love you’. A month dedicated to communication can help everyone practice patience and raise consciousness that not everyone communicates in the same way.
Click here to learn more about Speech and Hearing Month.
Vision Health Month of May
Vision Health Month is a great time to raise awareness about eye health and ways to prevent vision loss. A regular eye exam by a doctor of optometry is the best way to stay on top of eye health. Did you know that 1 in 7 Canadians will develop a serious eye disease in their lifetime? Yet 75% of vision loss can be prevented or treated with proper care. A comprehensive eye exam can also detect potentially life threatening conditions, like brain tumours, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Click here to learn more about Vision Health Month.
Mental Health Week May 3-9
As we are well into the second year of a global pandemic we need to recognize the continued level of anxiety and stress we are all feeling. This month the Canadian Mental Health Association wants to remind us that “mental health is something we can protect, not just something we can lose”. This year CMHA Mental Health Week, will focus on how naming, expressing, and dealing with our emotions—the ones we like and the ones we don’t—is important for our mental health. So the theme of this year #GetReal about how you feel. And name it, don’t numb it.
Click here to learn more about Mental Health Week.
National Child and Youth Mental Health Day May 7th
A mental health day for children and youth is intended to spread a message of mental health promotion to youth across Canada. We know that 70% of mental health disorders have their onset in childhood or adolescence. By sharing resources and encouraging the community to recognize the need and importance of mental health support for child and youth we can offer support earlier and change the impact a mental illness can have now and in the future.
Mother’s Day is May 9th
Wikipedia states that Mother’s Day is a celebration “honouring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society”. Mother’s day is celebrated in over 40 countries around the world. On this day each year, many people express gratitude towards their mothers and mother figures which may include step-mothers, mothers-in-law, grandmothers, and other guardians (eg. foster parents), and family friends. It is the time for people to thank mothers and mother figures who took the time to care for them and help them through life’s challenges.
However, we at Connect recognize that this day can be traumatic for women who are estranged from their mother or child, as well as for those who have lost a mother or a child, or are unable to bear a child. We appreciate that today could be a bittersweet holiday for many.
Click here to learn more about Mother’s Day.
Here is a resource that discusses how Mother’s Day Can Hurt
International-Day-for-Families May 15th
The definition of family means something different to everyone. Sometimes, it is whoever is around the dinner table. According to the United Nations families around the world are becoming smaller, and the number of single-parent households are growing.
Click here to learn about International Day for Families.
International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia May 17th
Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia can occur online, face to face and affect everyone by creating spaces where people feel unsafe and like they can’t be themselves. Sexuality and gender identity or intersex status aren’t always visible, so creating a culture where everyone feels safe, even if there aren’t any visible LGBTI people is even more important. International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia & Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) celebrates LGBTIQ people globally, and raises awareness for the work still needed.