Tag: #awareness days

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HEALTH AWARENESS DAYS/WEEKS AND FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL…

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CANCER AWARENESS MONTH – 1st – 30th April – Bowel Cancer and Testicular Cancer– Bowel cancer means cancer that starts in the large bowel (colon) and the back passage (rectum). It is also known as colorectal cancer. Your treatment depends on where the cancer starts in your bowel.

Bowel cancer is also called colorectal cancer. It affects the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum. Cancer is when abnormal cells start to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way. The cells can grow into surrounding tissues or organs, and may spread to other areas of the body. Symptoms of bowel (colorectal) cancer can include bleeding from the back passage, blood in your poo or a change in your normal bowel habit. Lots more details can be found here.

Testicular Cancer is cancer that develops in the testicles. The testicles are part of the male reproductive system. Symptoms include a lump or swelling in part of one testicle or a heavy scrotum. Find out more here

STRESS AWARENESS MONTH – 1st – 30th April – Stress is your body’s reaction to help you deal with pressure or threats. This is sometimes called a “fight or flight” response. Your stress hormone levels usually return to normal once the pressure or threat has passed.

A small amount of stress can be useful. It can motivate you to take action and get tasks completed. It can also make you feel alive and excited. But too much stress can cause negative effects such as a change in your mood, your body and relationship issues.

Millions around the UK experience stress and it is damaging to our health and wellbeing. For example, at some point in the last year, 74% of us have felt so stressed that we have felt unable to cope (Mental Health Foundation).

Stress is the feeling of being under too much mental or emotional pressure. When you are stressed, your body releases stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol.

Stress is your body’s reaction to help you deal with pressure or threats. This is sometimes called a “fight or flight” response. Your stress hormone levels usually return to normal once the pressure or threat has passed.

Stress Awareness Month has been held every April since 1992 to raise awareness of the causes and cures for our modern-day stress epidemic. It is the time when we have an opportunity for an open conversation on the impact of stress. Dedicated time to removing the guilt, shame, and stigma around mental health. To talk about stress, and its effects and open up about our mental and emotional state with friends, families, colleagues, and professionals.

For more information look here.

WALK TO WORKDAY – 1st April – Years of medical research has shown that walking is one of the best ways to stay healthy and keep your body in shape. So, once a year, why not take the doctor’s advice and walk to work on Walk to Work Day?

Walk to Work Day, an unofficial holiday, occurs on various dates in different countries. In the United States, the day is annually observed on the first Friday of April.

Did you know that a 20 minute walk per day could cut your risk of premature death by a third. There are a huge number of benefits to walking, so why not energise your commute?  To find out more information look here.

EARTH DAY – 22nd April – Earth Day is an annual event celebrated to demonstrate support for environmental protection and promotion of harmony with nature. It is celebrated on April 22 (starting from 1970) although many countries celebrate Earth Day around the time of the March Equinox (the date on which night and day are of equal duration, usually 21 or 22 March). Also in 2009 a global International Mother Earth Day was proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations to be celebrated annually on April 22.

Earth Day is an excellent opportunity to organize outdoor pro-ecological activities including picking up trash and planting trees. Earth Day is also a chance to increase awareness about the effects of environmental degradation, including pollution and global warming, and to promote the importance of pro-ecological endeavos, including ecologically friendly agriculture, wastewater treatment projects.

Throughout April, they commemorate Earth Month with marches, rallies,volunteer events, and more. United together, we’ll drive a year of energy,enthusiasm, and commitment to a sustainable and equitable future for our planet. For more information look here.

WORLD HEALTH DAY – 7TH April – It is celebrated annually and each year draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world.

The date of 7 April marks the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948.

Organization will observe its 75th anniversary.

In 1948, countries of the world came together and founded WHO to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health and well-being.   

WHO’s 75th anniversary year is an opportunity to look back at public health successes that have improved quality of life during the last seven decades. It is also an opportunity to motivate action to tackle the health challenges of today  ̶  and tomorrow.  

Join WHO on a journey to achieve Health For All. #HealthForAll   #WHO75 Find more details here.

MS AWARENESS WEEK – 24TH – 30th April – This year the focus will be on mental health and MS.

For the first time they have joined forces with other MS charities to deliver a united message for #MSAwarenessWeek.They want to share a wide range of your stories about mental health for the media and on our social accounts.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that affects your brain and spinal cord. In MS, the coating that protects your nerves (myelin) is damaged. This causes a range of symptoms like blurred vision and problems with how we move think and feel.

More than 130,000 people in the UK have MS. In the UK people are most likely to find out they have MS in their thirties, forties and fifties. But the first signs of MS often start years earlier. Many people notice their first symptoms years before they get their diagnosis.

If you’d like to know more and share your experiences email pressofffice@mssociety.org.uk.

They will share more in the coming months on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or find out more by going here.

IBS AWARENESS MONTH – 1ST – 30TH April – If you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), you are not alone – IBS is common with prevalence estimated at 5% to 10% worldwide. Yet many people remain undiagnosed and unaware that their symptoms indicate a medically recognized disorder.In 1997, IFFGD designated April as IBS Awareness Month.

IBS Awareness Month is listed on the U.S. National Health Observances calendar. Health observances are days, weeks, or months devoted to promoting particular health concerns. Individuals, health professionals, teachers, community groups, and others can use these special times to sponsor health promotion events and stimulate awareness of health issues.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the name given to a longstanding illness consisting of frequent abdominal discomfort and bowel symptoms that cannot be explained by any other disease.

Symptoms include:

  • Abdominal cramps, often relieved by going to the toilet
  • Bloating
  • Diarrhoea
  • Constipation
  • Frustrated defaecation (needing to go to the toilet but not being able to)
  • Wind

IBS is an illness that has no specific cause, no distinctive pathology and no single effective treatment.  The symptoms can vary from person to person and in the same person different times but often in response to what happens or changes in diet or lifestyle.  

Physiological studies have shown that the gut in IBS tends to be more sensitive and reactive (irritable). Causes of this may include a traumatic or upsetting event or situation or an attack of gastroenteritis. 

Other common symptoms that may be associated with IBS:

  • Tiredness
  • Nausea
  • Heartburn and indigestion
  • Backache
  • Needing to pass urine frequently
  • Headaches
  • Muscle pains
  • Anxiety
  • Depression

It is more common in women than men (3:2), tends to start in teenage or twenties and may persist on and off throughout life, often depending on what is happening. For more information look here.

Source: Cancer Research Stress.Org Nicks Well Earth Day World Health Organisation MS Society IBS Society UK IBS Network

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WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY – 10th SEPTEMBER, 2022…

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WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY – 10th September – Every year organisations and communities around the world come together to raise awareness of how we can create a world where fewer people die by suicide.

The latest suicide statistics showed that in 2018, in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, more than 6,800 people died by suicide. Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy.

And we know that suicide is preventable, it’s not inevitable. But not being okay is still widely stigmatised. And governments can still make better, more ambitious plans to prevent suicide.

Every year The Samaritans campaign with over 70 other suicide prevention and mental health groups under the National Suicide Prevention Alliance (NSPA).

Together, they ask governments in the UK and Ireland to make suicide prevention a priority and help raise awareness about how we can support each other better.

This year’s theme, which will be the theme until 2023, is ‘Creating Hope Through Action’, which aims to empower people with the confidence to engage with the complexity of ‘hope’.

For ideas on how to support World Suicide Day head over to The Samaritans website.

Every year the Samaritans campaign with over 70 other suicide prevention and mental health groups under the National Suicide Prevention Alliance (NSPA). Together, they ask governments in the UK and Ireland to make suicide prevention a priority.

They also raise awareness about Samaritans, and suicide prevention and provide tips on how to take care of yourself and others better. This World Suicide Prevention Day, if you’re worried someone might be experiencing suicidal thoughts – they encourage you to ask them directly.

Asking someone if they’re suicidal won’t make things worse. Evidence shows it could protect them.

If someone is feeling suicidal, it might be hard to get through to them. They might be distant or distracted or feel disconnected from the world and their own emotions. They might not respond right away. But asking someone directly if they’re having suicidal thoughts can give them permission to tell you how they feel.

If someone does let you know that they are having suicidal thoughts, always take them seriously. You don’t have to be an expert, just being there to listen and showing you care can help them work through what’s going on. Let them know they’re not a burden and there’s always someone they can turn to – whether it’s a family member or friend, or a 24/7 helpline like Samaritans.

It’s OK to ask about suicidal thoughts. It could save a life. People who have been suicidal have often said it is a relief to talk about thoughts they are experiencing. Just being there to listen and showing you care can help. If they want to talk to someone else about how they are feeling, they can call Samaritans.

Rethink Mental Health writes that in the UK, men are three times as likely to die by suicide than women. In the Republic of Ireland, the rate is four times higher among men than women.  While there has been a reduction in the number of people completing suicide over the last ten years, the numbers are still worryingly high.  World Suicide Prevention Day aims to start the conversation about suicide and to show that recovery is possible. 

To mark World Suicide Prevention Day, the North West London Suicide Prevention Programme is hosting a free event discussing the barriers faced by people bereaved by suicide. To book, please register via our Event Bright page.

Also during this week, their Mental Health Training team will also be running our suicide awareness training. For more details, please visit our suicide awareness training page.

For IASP, World Suicide Prevention Day is more than just one day and their awareness period continues until World Mental Health Day on the 10th of October.

They are delighted to share with their supporters the new World Suicide Prevention Day Awareness Film. The WSPD Awareness film promotes the current theme, ‘Creating Hope Through Action’.  The film aims to inspire confidence and light in us all to act, by reaching into a person who may be struggling, by encouraging understanding within ourselves and our communities and by sharing our experiences to impart a message of hope.

Around 700,000 people die by suicide every year, with over 75% of suicides occurring in low-and-middle-income countries. Suicide is a global concern and a serious public health issue in every country; however, suicides are preventable. By raising awareness, reducing the stigma around suicide and encouraging well-informed action, we can reduce instances of suicide around the world.

World Suicide Prevention Day, observed on 10 September every year, exists as a platform to raise awareness of suicide and to promote preventative measures with the aim to reduce the number of suicides and suicide attempts globally.

They encourage you to share this film and use their resources, guides and information on the IASP WSPD website and join them in taking action during this time.

Source: The Samaritans ReThink Mental Health ISAP Back Pain Blog

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10 TIPS FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED FIBROMYALGIA SUFFERERS…

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If you have been newly diagnosed with Fibromyalgia here are a few tips to help you deal with the condition.

1. Never be afraid to ask for help, be it with the shopping, cooking or cleaning. As most sufferers tend to ‘look fine’ most people do not realise the pain they are suffering inside, so if you don’t ask you won’t get help. 2. If work is leaving you exhausted and in pain, then design a flexible plan that works for you and your boss. Ask about working from home part-time, or setting your hours for earlier or later in the day so you can be more productive, during this busy time.

2. At the office, rearrange your workspace for comfort and easy accessibility. A telephone headset, keyboard tray, or other products may help put less stress on your body.

3. Don’t try to always put on a happy face. Your loved ones need to know what makes your symptoms worse.

4. Rest, rest and more rest, every little helps to recharge your batteries. When you feel that overwhelming urge to sleep try and get forty winks.

5. Support groups can play an important part in the lives of people with chronic illnesses. Whether in person or online, they offer a safe place to talk with others who may share your frustrations and concerns.

6. Tomorrow is another day and with Fibromyalgia tomorrow can be a more comfortable day, so try to not think negative when you are having a bad day.

7. Keep all your ‘helpful’ pain relievers on hand, be it a hot water bottle, pillow, cushion or whatever you have that helps your pain.

8. A useful purchase for going out is a lightweight portable stadium seat which you can find on Amazon.

9. Also a sciatica support cushion can be great to have in your car while travelling. I could not manage many journeys without mine. There are lots to choose from.

10.This is an Adjustable Tripod Walking Stick and seat. If, like me you cannot stand for long in a queue then this is just perfect. The Height adjustable walking stick seat is designed to provide support and comfort and provides a stable and comfortable seated position when you need a break from standing.