For over 50 years, Hispanic Heritage Month has been celebrated in the United States from September 15 – October 15. Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the diverse cultures within Central and Latin America and other Spanish-speaking countries, and the contributions of those peoples to America. Join us as we recognize the contributions of some of our team members to the health of the communities we serve and learn how they celebrate their culture!
Category: Events
National Health Center Week
National Health Center Week Celebration and Veterans Appreciation Event
Thursday, August 16th
2:00pm – 6:00pm
975 West Faris Road
Greenville, SC 29605
Join New Horizon Family Health Services as we celebrate health centers (home of America’s health care heroes!) and show appreciation to Veterans in our community. Enjoy activities for the whole family including food truck fare, a kid’s zone, local exhibitors, health screenings for Veterans (1st 25 Veterans will receive a gift card), health education, senior exercise sessions, site tours, nutrition classes, music, giveaways and more! Admission is free.
American Diabetes Month
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. It can cause blindness, nerve damage, kidney disease, and other health problems if it’s not controlled.
One in 11 Americans have diabetes — that’s more than 29 million people. And another 86 million adults in the United States are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The good news? People who are at high risk for type 2 diabetes can lower their risk by more than half if they make healthy changes. These changes include: eating healthy, increasing physical activity, and losing weight.
How can American Diabetes Month make a difference?
We can use this month to raise awareness about diabetes risk factors and encourage people to make healthy changes.
Here are just a few ideas:
- Encourage people to make small changes, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
- Talk to people in your community about getting regular checkups. They can get their blood pressure and cholesterol checked, and ask the doctor about their diabetes risk.
- Ask doctors and nurses to be leaders in their communities by speaking about the importance of healthy eating and physical activity.
National Red Ribbon Week October 23 – 31
Did you know…
Children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those who don’t, yet only a quarter of teens report having these conversations.
National Primary Care Week October 2 – 6
National Primary Care Week is an annual event to highlight the importance of primary care and bring health care professionals together to discuss and learn about the impacts climate change can and will have on human health and health care. NPCW’s goal is to engage physicians-in-training, students across the health care spectrum, and the general population on the indispensable role of primary care in our health care system.
Mental Illness Awareness Week October 2 – 6
Navigating life with a mental health condition can be tough, and the isolation, blame and secrecy that is often encouraged by stigma can create huge challenges to reaching out, getting needed support and living well. Learning how to avoid and address stigma are important for all of us, especially when you realize stigma’s effects:
- People experiencing mental health conditions often face rejection, bullying and discrimination. This can make their journey to recovery longer and more difficult.
- Mental health conditions are the leading cause of disability across the United States.
- Even though most people can be successfully treated, less than half of the adults in the U.S. who need services and treatment get the help they need.
- The average delay between the onset of symptoms and intervention is 8-10 years.
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death of youth ages 15-24 and the tenth leading cause of death for all Americans.
– See more at: https://www.nami.org/stigmafree#sthash.sV94GLii.dpuf
National Dental Hygiene Month
October is National Dental Hygiene Month, an effort to celebrate the work dental hygienists do and to help raise awareness on the importance of good oral health.
National Dental Hygiene Month is an annual designation observed in October.
OBSERVE
Practice good dental hygiene. Set up an appointment with your dentist. Use #DentalHygieneMonth to post on social media.
HISTORY
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company have been teaming together during National Dental Hygiene Month (NDHM) since 2009, with the ADHA and the Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program (WOHP) working collaboratively to increase public awareness about the importance of maintaining good oral health.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) evolved from the “Day of Unity” held in October 1981 and conceived by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The intent was to connect advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children. The Day of Unity soon became an entire week devoted to a range of activities conducted at the local, state, and national level. The activities conducted were as varied and diverse as the program sponsors but had common themes:
- Mourning those who have died because of domestic violence
- Celebrating those who have survived
- Connecting those who work to end violence
These three themes remain a key focus of DVAM events today. In October 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed. That same year marks the initiation of the first national domestic violence toll-free hotline. In 1989, the U.S. Congress passed Public Law 101-112 designating October of that year as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Such legislation has passed every year since with NCADV providing key leadership in this effort. Each year, the Day of Unity is celebrated the first Monday of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) celebrated its 30th anniversary. Since its inception, NBCAM has been at the forefront of promoting awareness of breast cancer issues and has evolved along with the national dialogue on breast cancer. Today, NBCAM recognizes that although many great strides have been made in breast cancer awareness and treatment, there remains much to be accomplished. As NBCAM celebrated its 30th anniversary, they remain dedicated to educating and empowering women to take charge of their own breast health by practicing regular self-breast exams to identify any changes, scheduling regular visits and annual mammograms with their healthcare provider, adhering to prescribed treatment and knowing the facts about recurrence.
The third Friday in October each year is National Mammography Day, first proclaimed by President Clinton in 1993. On this day, or throughout the month, women are encouraged to make a mammography appointment. In 2017, National Mammography Day will be celebrated on October 20.
Take A Loved One to the Doctor Day – September 10th
Many of us disregard the importance of regular checkups. Some of us avoid doctor visits out of fear and others simply because it’s not part of our routine. When your loved one puts off seeing the doctor, a small health problem can become a more serious one. And some of the most serious health issues don’t always have obvious symptoms.
You may be the one person who can convince your loved one to go to the doctor. Give it a try. Often just by asking some basic questions about diet and lifestyle and running some quick tests, a doctor can assess someone’s health and well-being. The doctor may be able to suggest behaviors or treatments to dramatically lower the risk of serious health problems.
It’s important for people of all ages to see a doctor regularly. People age 50 and over should see a doctor at least once a year. Yet they are often the most resistant to seeing a doctor out of fear of the unknown. But by encouraging a loved one to go, the benefits include:
• Help your loved one learn what he or she needs to do to get and stay healthy.
• Reassure the whole family about your loved one’s health.
• Use this as a reminder to see the doctor yourself.
• You might save a loved one’s life!
Prep before you go
Preparing a little in advance will help your loved one get a lot more out of the doctor visit. Here are some suggestions of information to gather before you go see the doctor.
- Questions for the doctor: Help your loved one take control of his or her health by making sure the doctor addresses all of your questions thoroughly. The best way to do this? Write the questions down in advance. See our sample list of questions below.
- Bring all medications your loved one is taking to the doctor during the visit. By bringing in the bottles, you won’t have to wonder if you remembered everything, and the doctor can see the dose and frequency of each drug.
- Bring some health history information. Write down diseases, surgeries, family history of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc.