Raising Awareness by the Day, Week, and Month

As an adult with or a support person to someone with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD), you have likely had to grapple with such complex issues as choosing treatment options, coping with multiple diagnoses, securing school or workplace accommodations, and more. On ADDitudeMag.com, you have hopefully found a safe place to discuss these challenges. But how about outside of the ADD/ADHD community?

This October provides many opportunities to continue these conversations within the larger mental health community, with several awareness campaigns that touch upon similar topics, including Mental Illness Awareness Week, World Mental Health Day, and National Talk About Prescriptions Month, to name a few. Are you already an advocate? Leave a comment below telling us what you do to shed light on these often overlooked or misunderstood issues. If not, learn more about each campaign and how you can take part.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Though an invisible disability, none are more aware than members of the ADDitude community that managing ADD/ADHD at work can be a struggle for many adults with the condition. Disability Employment Awareness Month is a federal project from Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), which seeks to highlight how creative workplace diversity enriches corporate culture and the lives of everyone involved. One easy way to take part? Download a poster version of the picture above free from ODEP. To learn more about this topic from ADDitudeMag.com, check out ADDiva blogger's take on ADHD as a disability and our factsheet on ADHD and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

National Talk About Prescriptions Month

National Talk About Prescriptions Month, founded by the National Council on Patient Information and Education, encourages participants to learn to better communicate about their medication needs with both health care professionals and loved ones. The campaign also raises awareness about prescription drug abuse and drug interactions. The campaign's website has plenty of handy posters and flyers for anyone juggling multiple medications, including a medication wallet card and an "educate before you medicate" form, with questions to ask your doctor before, during, and after your visit. To learn more about this topic from ADDitudeMag.com, check out our archive of articles on ADD/ADHD medications and side effects.

National Depression Screening Day, October 7

Depression affects people from all walks of life, and it’s 2.7 times more prevalent among children and adults with ADD/ADHDthan among the general population. Every year, the non-profit organization Screening for Mental Health has a comprehensive list of places you can get checked for depression and anxiety locally. An online depression test is also available. Browse ADDitudeMag.com's archives, to learn more about depression and ADD/ADHD.

Mental Illness Awareness Week, October 3-9

Established by Congress in 1990, Mental Illness Awareness Week purposefully coincides with World Mental Health Day to raise awareness about mental health in the U.S., Canada and abroad. On Tuesday, October 5, a National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding encourages religious and spiritual communities to join in the campaign for mental illness recognition. In his blog this week, ADDitude's editor Wayne discusses further ways you can participate.

World Mental Health Day, October 10

Organized by the World Federation for Mental Health, World Mental Health Day is observed in more than 150 countries. It aims to reduce the stigma of living with mental health conditions, to raise awareness of the relationship between chronic illness and mental health, and to place the topic of mental health in the context of larger global issues like poverty, children's health, maternal health, education, and environmental sustainability.

If you want to share your thoughts about any of these campaigns, leave a comment below, e-mail webmaster@additudemag.com, send a link our way on @ADDitudemag on Twitter, or post it to our Facebook page!