Find Meaning in April Observances

Why should I care?

I have a love-dislike (I don’t like to say the word ‘hate’ ever) with Awareness Months. I wish we didn’t have them.

While I understand the importance of bringing attention to a particular problem, issue, or crisis, I don’t favor that we do it for just one month. I mean, everyone is all on board for Breast Cancer Awareness, Domestic Violence Awareness, Bullying Prevent Month - during those months. Waving their associated colors, donating time and money and talking about it. But it seems that people are only talking about ‘the awareness’ of the issue, but not the actual issue.

And what happens after that month is over? Silence—only the diehards continue talking about it.

Did you know that there are actually 506 recognized awareness days/weeks/months of something? Probably more if we include all the food awareness months, dog appreciation days, cat observances, cow appreciation month (not sure if that’s a thing) and the like.

Given our recent circumstances with social isolation, unemployment, detachment from real connections—during a crucial time with, and without, our families—it is important to recognize those who are impacted. And along with it the effects of the same, which leads to increased cases of abuse, suicide, alcoholism, etc.

Now more than ever we need attention for these observances. We need to bring light to the issues that have always been an issue—yet are more elevated due to our current environment.

For those of you who are in these groups—and I associate myself with several—we need help. And for those of us that can, it’s time to reach out and help those that need it.

These days I go back and forth between needing help one day: coaching, meditation, therapy and support from advocate groups supporting mental illness and abuse. And helping others on the days I feel strong.

We all need each other—all the time. Today we realize that we are one community, and equally humbled that we are all experiencing the same world, the same fears, anxieties, stress, confusion and uncertainties.

For this month, there are several April observances that can provide opportunities and resources needed to overcome past hurts and prevent others from experiencing some of the pains we have. These national awareness campaigns are wonderful ways to engage with like minds, give back to community — and learn important things along the way.

Reach out to them for help. Or reach out to them to offer your help.

Here are some ways to engage:

National Child Abuse Prevention Month. A designated national observance since 1983, this month aims to promote strong and thriving families through education about the profoundly negative impacts of adverse childhood experiences, known as ACEs. These traumatic events happen to children before they reach age 18, and they include all types of abuse and neglect — including those events stemming from parental mental illness, substance abuse, divorce, incarceration and domestic violence. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has produced a website (https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/preventing/preventionmonth) packed with resources that will help you learn more and engage in child protection in your community.

As an adult who experienced child abuse, I can attest to the negative impacts of ACEs. This group did not exist when I was a child. I think of all the young children today, in self-isolation with an abusive parent, and it breaks my heart to think of what they might be going through.

Month of the Military Child. Since 1986, the U.S. Department of Defense has led this salute to the children of parents and caregivers serving in the armed forces. April underscores “the important role military children play in the armed forces community,” according to the DoD. It “is a time to applaud military families and their children for the daily sacrifices they make and the challenges they overcome.” Find more information here (https://www.dodea.edu/dodeaCelebrates/Military-Child-Month.cfm)

If you know of someone who has children while one parent is away on duty, reach out and see what you might do for them. Self-Isolation is difficult. Self-isolating while your entire family is not all together to support each other through this crisis must be even more so.

National Alcohol Awareness Month Drinking too much alcohol increases people’s risk of injuries, violence, drowning, liver disease, and some types of cancer. We can all take steps to help prevent alcohol misuse and abuse. The U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion provides more information and resources (https://health.gov/news-archive/blog/2019/04/toolkit-alcohol-awareness-month-4/index.html) to help get us started.

Liquor stores have been deemed an essential business and they remain open. That says a lot about our society. While most can drink moderately, during times of stress, consuming too much can wreak havoc on a household, especially when there is no escape. I speak not from judgment but from a place of personal experience.

National Month of Hope. This is a relatively new observance — but one that stands to have major impact. Dr. Rosalind Tompkins, founder and president of Mothers in Crisis, Inc., launched this national public awareness campaign in 2018 to challenge people to ”think hope” and “make hope connections.” Learn more about ways to engage and empower here (http://makeahopeconnection.com/hope-happenings). Mothers in Crisis, Inc., links families and communities together to create networks of support and encouragement for families to live drug-free lives.

Check out my blog Hope Exists Within.

Occupational Therapy Month. Since 1980, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) has led this campaign to encourage people to live life to its fullest. “Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.” The AOTA provides ideas about why and how to celebrate here. (https://www.aota.org/Conference-Events/OTMonth/TenThings.aspx)

Those who require occupational therapy may not be getting the services they need to support their healing. Think of those you know who may need your help and get creative in ways in which you can reach out to them.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The 2020 theme of this national observance gets straight to the point: “I ask.” And we all should. Why? In the U.S., one in three women and one in six men experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime. Learn more at the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s campaign website (https://www.nsvrc.org/saam).

If you or anyone you know are in self-isolation and experiencing sexual assault, you can still get help.

Stress Awareness Month. Since 1992, this observance sponsored by The Health Resource Network, a nonprofit health education organization, has promoted the causes and cures for the modern stress epidemic — which can compromise our immune responses and raise risks for disease. The campaign aims to inform people about the dangers of stress, successful coping strategies and harmful misconceptions. Learn more about why and how to “take time to unwind” from Federal Occupational Health. (https://foh.psc.gov/calendar/stress.html)

Also read my blog post Healthy Foods for Stress Management.

April showers — and April empowers! This is a great month for personal reflection and to help yourself—and others—in their recovery journey. But this April, and going forward as I write about observances, let’s try to keep the awareness and support for ourselves, and one another, ongoing—as if it’s year-long.

Because we all need to feel empowered—and we should empower others—all the time.

And on a lighter note, this month, I’m also observing National Jelly Bean Day—yes this does exist and it’s April 22, 2020. Only I observed it already and ate my yearly box of jelly beans in two days over Easter weekend.