There are many important days in May to raise awareness and observe how our actions can change lives. This month, we address mental health, speech and hearing, vision health, mother’s day, child and youth mental health, day of families, day against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, and day to end Obstetric Fistula.
Speech and Hearing – Month of May
May is the month dedicated to speech and hearing. Its purpose is to remind us not to take the ability to speak and hear for granted. This month encourages us to genuinely appreciate having the ability to communicate in these ways. To learn more, visit https://www.sac-oac.ca/news-events/speech-hearing-month
Vision Health – Month of May
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 severe 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. To learn more, visit: https://opto.ca/vision-health-month
Mental Health Week – May 2nd-8th
Mental health week is a national celebration introduced in Canada in 1951. Its 70-year-old purpose is to raise awareness and open the eyes and hearts to mental health. This year mental health week will take place on the week of May 2nd. Last year, the Canadian Mental Health Association created a campaign, #GetReal. It focused on getting individuals to name, deal with, and express their emotions. Visit: https://mentalhealthweek.ca for more information.
This year’s theme is Empathy. The campaign recalls when former US President Barack Obama suggested the “biggest deficit in the world was an empathy deficit”. You have empathy for a person when you can imagine how they might feel based on what you know about that person.
There has been research on the importance of empathy in leadership, healthcare, education and of course, parenting. Incorporating empathy in our relationships builds trust, reduces anxiety and increases our sense of well-being.
Visit: https://mentalhealthweek.ca for more information.
Mother’s Day – May 8th
On May 8th, many people around the world celebrate Mother’s day. The day aims to celebrate and thank our mothers and mother figures who sacrifice for their families and significantly influence our society. On this day some people give flowers, cards, chocolates and/or give other gifts of appreciation. However, we at Connect recognize that this day can be traumatic for women who are estranged from their mother or child and 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. To learn more facts about mother’s day, visit: https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/canada/mother-day
National Child and Youth Mental Health Day – May 7th
Mental health day for children and youth is meant to spread a message about the importance of mental health to youth in Canada. Mental health awareness is a key aspect of reducing stigma and preventing further illness and disability. This is especially true for our youth. Many things can be done to prevent mental illness and its impact and help improve the lives of children experiencing mental health concerns. To learn more about this subject visit https://may7icare.ca/
International Day of Families – May 15th
On May 15th, we celebrate the international day of families. The definition of family means something different to everyone. According to the United Nations, families worldwide are becoming smaller, while the number of single-parent households is growing. The theme for families’ day in 2021 was “Families and New Technologies .”To learn more about this year’s theme, visit: https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-of-families
International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia – May 17th
On May 17th, we raise awareness to support the LGBTQ community. This year’s theme is “Our Bodies, Our Lives, Our Rights’. Visit https://www.idahobit.org.au/index.php/get-active/the-stats to learn more.