When you think of September, you probably think about Back to School – and while that’s true and an important time for families, there are many other key September dates and events that you may want to highlight in employee communications. Here’s our pick:.
National Suicide Prevention Month – In 2020, the U.S. had one death by suicide every 11 minutes. Suicide is a leading cause of death for people aged 10-34 years. See our related post on Preteen Suicides on the Rise. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. We also discussed more about this service in a blog post: 988: The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
National Preparedness Month – Power outages. Wildfires. Hurricanes. Ice storms. Emergencies and disasters are an unfortunate fact of life, but advance planning can keep you and your family safe should the worst occur. September is National Preparedness Month, a good time to assess your regional risks and build a safety, evacuation, and communication plan for your family. Ready.gov offers a wealth of resources addressing safety before, during, and after many common disasters and hazards. Also, download the FEMA app and the Red Cross Emergency App to sign up for alerts targeted to your area.
Healthy Aging Month – This is an annual health observance designed to focus national attention on the positive aspects of growing older. It was first introduced when the baby boomers were about to turn 50; now, and since 2015, many in Gen X have been crossing that threshold too. But the real key is aging well is starting young and building healthy lifelong habits. See our posts on how to live to be 100 and the single greatest thing for our health.
National Recovery Month 2024 – Recovery is real and possible. 7 in 10 of adults who have had a mental health or substance use condition are in recovery. During September, SAMHSA aims to increase public awareness surrounding mental health and addiction recovery.
Other key September dates & events:
- Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
- National Sickle Cell Awareness Month
- Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
- Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
- World Alzheimer’s Month
- 9/2 – Labor Day
- 9/8 – National Grandparents Day
- 9/10 – World Suicide Prevention Day
- 9/15-10/15 – Hispanic Heritage Month
- 9/23-27 – Falls Prevention Awareness Week
- 9/29 – World Heart Day
ESI EAP Member website webinar theme for the month – In September, our employee members’ featured webinar is Putting Out the Fire: Preventing and Managing Burnout. Research suggests that up to two-thirds of American employees experience some degree of burnout. Burnout impacts productivity, morale and financial bottom line due to the health-related costs of burnout. In this webinar, get strategies for preventing and managing burnout. Members can simply log in to www.theEAP.com during July to view the webinar and explore related resources.