September Health Observances and

Community Actions

Awareness → Action → Impact

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Building Healthy Families • Healthy Communities • Healthy Futures

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September is an opportunity to promote prevention, early detection, healthy aging, mental well-being, and compassionate support. Community organizations, healthcare providers, schools, employers, and residents can turn awareness into action through the following observances.

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Healthy Aging Month

Healthy aging includes physical activity, preventive care, social connection, good nutrition, and safe environments for people of every age. The U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion recognizes Healthy Aging Month in September.

Community actions:

• Host a free walking group, balance class, or fall-prevention workshop.

• Offer blood pressure checks, medication reviews, and preventive-care referrals.

• Check on older neighbors and help them access transportation, meals, or social programs.

• Review public spaces for lighting, seating, shade, and accessibility.

• Invite older adults to help design local programs instead of planning on their behalf.

 

Healthy Aging resources from ODPHP

National Suicide Prevention Month

Suicide prevention is a shared responsibility. Communities can help by strengthening social connections, reducing stigma, teaching people to recognize warning signs, and making support easy to find. The CDC emphasizes that suicide is preventable and everyone can play a role.

Community actions:

• Train staff, educators, faith leaders, and residents to recognize warning signs and respond safely.

• Share the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline—call, text, or chat 988—on websites, signs, newsletters, and resource cards.

• Hold supportive conversations using respectful, nonjudgmental language.

• Create opportunities for social connection, especially for people experiencing isolation, grief, discrimination, or financial stress.

• Develop clear referral and follow-up procedures for people who may be at risk.

 

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or seek emergency assistance.

CDC suicide-prevention guidance | 988 Lifeline

 

National Recovery Month

National Recovery Month celebrates people recovering from substance use disorders and recognizes the families, peers, and professionals who support them. Recovery is possible, especially when communities provide accessible, respectful, evidence-based services.

Community actions:

• Publish a local directory of treatment, harm-reduction, recovery, housing, and peer-support resources.

• Host a recovery celebration or listening session led by people with lived experience.

• Provide overdose-response and naloxone education.

• Review organizational language and policies to remove stigma.

• Support recovery-friendly workplaces, schools, housing programs, and community spaces.

 

CDC National Recovery Month resources

Sickle Cell Awareness Month

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that can cause severe pain, infections, stroke, anemia, and other complications. Timely, informed, and compassionate care can improve health and quality of life.

Community actions:

• Organize a blood drive in partnership with a qualified blood-collection organization.

• Share information about sickle cell disease, trait testing, treatment, and specialist care.

• Train healthcare and emergency personnel to recognize and respond promptly to sickle cell pain.

• Support flexible school and workplace accommodations for people managing the disease.

• Center the voices and experiences of individuals and families affected by sickle cell disease.

 

CDC sickle cell information

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

September honors children and adolescents affected by cancer, their families, survivors, caregivers, and healthcare teams. Support may be needed during treatment and for years afterward because some survivors experience late effects.

Community actions:

• Coordinate meals, transportation, childcare, school support, or emergency financial assistance for affected families.

• Promote reputable childhood-cancer and survivorship resources.

• Support age-appropriate educational and social opportunities during treatment.

• Encourage long-term follow-up care for survivors.

• Hold fundraisers only with transparent, reputable organizations and explain how donations will be used.

 

National Cancer Institute childhood-cancer resources

Blood Cancer Awareness Month

Blood cancers include leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Awareness efforts can encourage symptom recognition, appropriate medical evaluation, research participation, and support for patients and caregivers.

 

Community actions:

• Share medically reviewed information about blood cancers and available support services.

• Promote blood, platelet, and eligible stem-cell donor registration opportunities.

• Help patients access transportation, meals, translation, childcare, and financial-navigation services.

• Offer caregiver support groups and respite resources.

• Encourage residents with persistent or concerning symptoms to consult a healthcare professional rather than self-diagnose.

 

National Cancer Institute blood-cancer information

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

Ovarian cancer symptoms can be vague, and there is no routine screening test recommended for average-risk people without symptoms. Persistent bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating, feeling full quickly, or urinary changes should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

Community actions:

• Share clear information about symptoms and the importance of timely evaluation.

• Promote access to primary and gynecologic care.

• Encourage residents to learn and discuss their family cancer history.

• Provide transportation, interpretation, and patient-navigation assistance.

• Avoid messaging that suggests a routine screening test can reliably detect ovarian cancer in everyone.

 

National Cancer Institute ovarian-cancer information

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Prostate-cancer screening involves individual benefits and potential harms. People should make informed decisions with a healthcare professional based on age, risk factors, family history, and personal preferences.

Community actions:

• Host an educational session led by a qualified healthcare professional.

• Encourage informed conversations about screening instead of promoting one approach for everyone.

• Address barriers to primary care, follow-up testing, and treatment.

• Provide culturally appropriate outreach for populations experiencing a higher burden of disease.

• Connect patients and caregivers with navigation and support services.

 

National Cancer Institute prostate-cancer information

Key September Dates

• September 10 — World Suicide Prevention Day: Share 988 resources, offer prevention training, and create safe opportunities for connection.

• September 13 — World Sepsis Day: Teach residents to recognize signs of a life-threatening response to infection and seek urgent care.

• September 18 — National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day: Promote testing, treatment, prevention, and coordinated care for older adults.

• September 28 — World Rabies Day: Encourage current pet vaccinations, responsible animal contact, and prompt medical care after possible exposure.

 

Communitywide Call to Action

Choose at least one action this September:

1. Learn: Attend a training or share information from a reliable health source.

2. Connect: Check on someone who may be isolated, overwhelmed, or managing an illness.

3. Prepare: Save 988 and locate nearby health, mental-health, recovery, and emergency services.

4. Participate: Volunteer, donate blood, support a caregiver, or attend a community event.

5. Improve access: Help remove transportation, language, cost, disability, and technology barriers that prevent people from receiving care.

Awareness is most valuable when it leads to sustained action. Communities should include affected residents in planning, provide accessible and culturally responsive information, and evaluate whether their activities connect people with meaningful support.

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Healthy Communities Begin With Healthy Choices. Together We Can Build a Stronger, Healthier Cochise County.​

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