Tools & Resources
Every month we share a guide to next month’s Healthcare Awareness Observations. It includes easy-to-access, curated resources you can use to implement internal or external awareness campaigns.
May’s healthcare observations are packed with mental health awareness, arthritis information, and tobacco free initiatives.
The following list will help you align your internal education, social media, and community outreach campaigns.
May Healthcare Awareness
Monthly Healthcare Awareness Observations
- Mental Health Awareness Month
sponsored by: Mental Health America (MHA)
Tagline: “More Good Days, Together”
Observed since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month was founded by Mental Health America to promote understanding of mental health and reduce stigma. Over time, organizations such as NAMI and SAMHSA have joined with their own campaigns. MHA’s Mental Health Month page hosts an annual outreach toolkit with downloadable graphics, social media posts, fact sheets, and worksheets that teams can copy, adapt, and share. - National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
sponsored by: Colorectal Cancer Alliance
Tagline: “Access to anti-inflammatory inhalers for everyone with asthma”
Since 1984, AAFA has designated May as National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month to spotlight the burden of asthma and allergic diseases as well as promote prevention and control. The campaign site offers an awareness toolkit with facts, infographics, and sample social media messages that healthcare organizations can use for staff education, patient outreach, and community campaigns. - Skin Cancer Awareness Month
sponsored by: Skin Cancer Foundation
Tagline: “#ExposetheTruth #SharetheFacts”
Skin Cancer Awareness Month focuses on prevention, early detection, and treatment of skin cancers. The Skin Cancer Foundation leads a major May campaign, providing a Skin Cancer Awareness Month Toolkit with ready-to-use social media graphics, sample posts, and educational resources that can be dropped into newsletters, intranet posts, and social channels. - National Osteoporosis Month
sponsored by: Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF, formerly NOF)
Tagline: “Step Up for Stronger Bones”
National Osteoporosis Month is observed in May to draw attention to bone health and the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis. BHOF develops annual campaign resources, such as social media graphics, key messages, and educational materials, that health systems can incorporate into outreach, classes, and digital campaigns. - ALS Awareness Month
sponsored by: ALS Association (U.S. focus) and partner ALS organizations
Tagline: “#ALSAdvocacy”
ALS Awareness Month is commonly observed in May in the U.S. to raise awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, support patients and families, and promote research. The ALS Association and partner organizations publish digital toolkits that include social media content, storytelling assets, and event ideas that hospitals and community partners can easily reuse. - Arthritis Awareness Month
sponsored by: Arthritis Foundation (U.S.)
Tagline: “#ArthritisAwarenessMonth”
May has long been recognized as Arthritis Awareness Month to highlight how arthritis and related conditions affect quality of life. The Arthritis Foundation coordinates national efforts and provides a partnership/awareness toolkit with pre-written social media posts, images, and campaign ideas to help organizations educate patients and promote self‑management and physical activity.
Weekly Healthcare Awareness Observations
- Children’s Mental Health Awareness/Acceptance Week (May 3-9, 2026)
sponsored by: National Federation of Families (U.S.) and partner organizations
Tagline: “Beyond the Screen: Education, Prevention, Connection”
First declared in 2004 by the National Federation of Families, this week has evolved from Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week to Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week. It promotes understanding and acceptance of children and youth with mental health needs and their families. The Federation and state/local partners typically release digital toolkits with posters, social media content, and activity ideas for schools, providers, and community organizations. - National Nurses Week (U.S.) (May 6-12, 2026)
sponsored by: American Nurses Association (ANA)
Tagline: “#ThePowerofNurses”
Officially recognized in the U.S. since the 1990s, National Nurses Week runs from May 6 (National Nurses Day) through May 12 (Florence Nightingale’s birthday). ANA coordinates a broad campaign, including Nurses Month activities. The digital toolkit provides downloadable graphics, social media posts, and recognition ideas that organizations can use for internal appreciation and external storytelling about the role of nurses. - National Hospital Week (May 10-16, 2026)
sponsored by: American Hospital Association (AHA)
Tagline: “#WeAreHealthCare”
National Hospital Week evolved from National Hospital Day, which was originally tied to Florence Nightingale’s birthday to recognize the vital role of hospitals in community health. Today, it is a nationwide opportunity to celebrate hospitals, health systems, and the teams who work in them. The AHA National Hospital Week page provides campaign resources (themes, logos, social media graphics, and recognition ideas) that organizations can use for internal appreciation campaigns, external storytelling, and community outreach. - Food Allergy Awareness Week (May 10-16, 2026)
sponsored by: American Hospital Association (AHA)
Tagline: “#FoodAllergyAwarenessWeek”
Food Allergy Awareness Week was established in the late 1990s as a dedicated time to raise awareness of food allergies, anaphylaxis risk, and the need for safer environments in schools, workplaces, and healthcare settings. FARE coordinates a national campaign each May that includes digital toolkits, social media graphics, proclamation templates, and educational resources. Healthcare organizations, schools, and community partners can use these materials to educate staff and families about recognizing reactions, preventing exposures, and responding with epinephrine when needed.
Daily Healthcare Awareness Observations
- World Hand Hygiene Day – May 5
sponsored by: World Health Organization (WHO)
Tagline: “#HandHygiene”
Established as part of WHO’s SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands initiative in 2009, World Hand Hygiene Day is marked each May 5 to promote hand hygiene as a core patient‑safety strategy and a key measure against healthcare‑associated infections and sepsis. The WHO campaign page provides an advocacy toolkit with key messages, posters, and social media graphics that facilities can adapt for staff and patient education. - World Asthma Day – May 5 (First Tuesday in May)
sponsored by: Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA)
Tagline: “Access to anti-inflammatory inhalers for everyone with asthma- still an urgent need”
World Asthma Day is coordinated by GINA to raise global awareness of asthma prevention and control. GINA selects a new theme each year and releases campaign materials, including fact sheets, infographics, and social media content. These are designed for easy use by clinicians, health systems, and public health teams to support asthma education and advocacy. - International Day of the Midwife – May 5
sponsored by: International Confederation of Midwives (ICM)
Tagline: “One Million More Midwives”
Established by ICM in 1992, the International Day of the Midwife is celebrated on 5 May to recognize midwives’ central role in maternal and newborn health. Each year ICM sets a theme and releases a digital toolkit with logos, posters, social media graphics, and key messages that midwives, health systems, and advocacy groups can deploy. - International Nurses Day – May 12
sponsored by: International Council of Nurses (ICN)
Tagline: “#OurNursesOurFuture #IND2026”
International Nurses Day, established by ICN in 1965, is observed annually on May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. ICN selects a theme each year and publishes an IND toolkit with policy briefs, case studies, posters, and social media materials that nursing organizations and health systems can adapt to highlight nursing’s impact and advocate for investment in the profession. - World Hypertension Day – May 17
sponsored by: World Hypertension League (WHL)
Tagline: “Controlling Hypertension Together!”
World Hypertension Day, observed May 17, raises awareness of high blood pressure as a major preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. WHL coordinates the campaign and provides a toolkit featuring logos, banners, social media graphics, and key messages that organizations can use for patient education, screenings, and digital outreach. - World No Tobacco Day – May 31
sponsored by: World Health Organization (WHO)
Tagline: “Unmasking the Appeal”
World No Tobacco Day has been observed on May 31 since 1988, established by WHO to highlight the health risks of tobacco use and push for strong tobacco control policies. WHO releases an annual theme and a package of campaign materials including factsheets, posters, videos, and social media graphics, that governments, providers, and NGOs can repurpose for internal and external campaigns.
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