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In addition to sugary treats, October is rich in healthcare observances and opportunities for independent medical practices to support important causes, raise awareness, and engage their communities.
October 2025 healthcare observances include:
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month
- Down Syndrome Awareness Month
- National Bullying Prevention Month
- World Mental Health Day
Explore the following strategies for maximizing these opportunities to build community connections and promote your practice.
| Access our full list of 2025 healthcare observances and marketing ideas here. |
October 2025 healthcare observances and marketing ideas
Read on to discover October’s health observances paired with marketing approaches to highlight these vital issues while establishing your practice as a trusted resource.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
When is Breast Cancer Awareness Month? And when did Breast Cancer Awareness Month start? Breast Cancer Awareness Month is celebrated every October. This event first began in 1985 as a week-long observance spearheaded by the American Cancer Society and Imperial Chemical Industries (which makes tamoxifen, a drug used to treat and prevent breast cancer).
Since then, the observance has morphed into a global campaign to increase awareness about the disease, affecting approximately 2.3 million women worldwide. Now, a month long, the campaign shines a light on breast cancer, its treatment, and the importance of early screening. The pink ribbon is the symbol of this observance.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month marketing ideas
- Pull out the pink: Decorate your office with pink ribbons, balloons, and posters. Encourage your staff to wear pink on certain days to show solidarity. Consider distributing pink ribbons and informational handouts to your patients as well. The National Breast Cancer Foundation offers free educational materials upon request.
- Offer free or discounted screenings: Partner with local radiologists to offer discounted or free breast cancer screenings during the month.
- Social media campaigns: Share information about breast cancer prevention, screening guidelines, and personal stories across social media channels. Use hashtags like #BreastCancerAwareness and #ThinkPink.
- Fundraising events: Consider hosting a fundraising event, such as a bake sale or charity walk, in your community, with proceeds going to a breast cancer charity.
“Decorate your office with pink ribbons, balloons, and posters. Encourage your staff to wear pink on certain days to show solidarity.”
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
When is Domestic Violence Awareness Month? And when did Domestic Violence Awareness Month start? Domestic Violence Awareness Month is observed annually in October. It was first observed in 1981 as a “Day of Unity.”
Like most observances, this awareness month seeks to promote resources for those affected. It also aims to advocate for stronger protections, support survivors, and educate the general public about the prevalence of domestic violence. The purple ribbon is the symbol of domestic violence awareness.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month marketing ideas
- Distribute resources: Provide pamphlets and resources about domestic violence prevention and support services in your office.
- Wear purple: Encourage your staff to wear purple on a specific day to show support for domestic violence survivors.
- Support local shelters: Collect donations of clothes, toiletries, or other essentials for domestic violence survivors, and partner with local shelters that can get those items to those in need.
- Host seminars: Very often, friends and families know of their loved ones’ predicament but are unsure how to help or scared to intervene lest they make things worse. So, consider partnering with local advocacy organizations, which can share tips and best practices for helping those in need.
- Social media campaigns: Educate your audience about domestic violence by sharing information across social media channels. Use hashtags like #DomesticViolenceAwareness and #SupportSurvivors.
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
When is Down Syndrome Awareness Month? Since the 1980s, October has been designated as Down Syndrome Awareness Month (DSAM). In addition to focusing on promoting acceptance, inclusion, and advocacy for people with Down syndrome, this observance also highlights the achievements, abilities, and importance of equal opportunities for people with Down syndrome.
“Organize a Buddy Walk® event in your community — a popular activity during Down Syndrome Awareness Month.”
Down Syndrome Awareness Month marketing ideas
- Educational workshops: Host a workshop or webinar for patients, parents, and caregivers on supporting individuals with Down syndrome. Where possible, partner with people in your community who have Down syndrome. Invite them to speak to your group about their lived experiences and share their stories.
- Social media campaigns: Highlight stories of people with Down syndrome in your community and share them across social media channels, on your website, or in weekly newsletters.
- Organize a Buddy Walk®: Organize a Buddy Walk® event in your community — a popular activity during Down Syndrome Awareness Month.
- Display artwork: Showcase artwork or crafts made by individuals with Down syndrome in your office to celebrate their creativity.
| Reach more patients with Tebra's expert healthcare social media marketing. |
National Bullying Prevention Month
When is National Bullying Prevention Month? And what day is National Stop Bullying Day? Observed every October, National Bullying Prevention Month is dedicated to uniting communities to prevent bullying through education and awareness.
The campaign encourages schools, parents, and children to take a stand against bullying, promoting a culture of kindness and respect. October 6, 2025 is the 19th annual World Day of Bullying Prevention.
National Bullying Prevention Month marketing ideas
- Take the anti-bullying Pledge: Encourage patients and staff to take an anti-bullying pledge and display it in your office. Consider partnering with pediatricians in your area to reach additional demographics.
- Conduct workshops for parents and kids: Host workshops that offer educational sessions on bullying prevention and coping strategies for children and parents.
- Collaborate with schools: Partner with local schools to provide resources or talks on bullying prevention.
- Wear orange: Throughout the month, pick one day each week when your staff wears orange — the color associated with anti-bullying. Share photos of the team on social media to spread awareness.
Additional month-long October healthcare observances
- Health Literacy Month
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month
- National ADHD Awareness Month
- National Dental Hygiene Month
October 2025 days to note and weeks to calendar
If marketing activities for an entire month feel like a heavy lift for you and your staff, you can always pick a few daily observances to plan marketing activities around.
World Mental Health Day
When is World Mental Health Day? Observed each year on October 10, World Mental Health Day is dedicated to global mental health education, awareness, and advocacy. It aims to mobilize efforts to support mental health, ensuring that mental healthcare is accessible to all.
Each year, a theme is selected to highlight different aspects of mental health. The theme for 2025, “Access to services — mental health in catastrophes and emergencies,” was set by the World Federation of Mental Health. Their position is that, “Poor mental health is not inevitable, and World Mental Health Day is an opportunity for us all to talk about mental health and consider how, together, we can help everyone have better mental health.”
“Consider hosting live workshops or webinars on mindfulness, stress management, or coping with anxiety and depression.”
World Mental Health Day marketing ideas
- Offer mental health screenings: Offer free or low-cost mental health screenings on October 10. Partner with therapists, psychologists, and other similar providers in your area if need be.
- Host stress management workshops: Stress management and mindfulness are not as intuitive as they might seem, and many people don’t know where to begin. So, as a community service, consider hosting live workshops or webinars on mindfulness, stress management, or coping with anxiety and depression.
- Create mental health resource kits: Curate mental health kits for your patients for distribution on October 10. Think about items like stress balls, bath bombs, and meditation guides. Don’t forget to include numbers for mental health hotlines and educational materials. If multiple kits pull too hard on the petty cash, you can also do a raffle for 1 or 2 kits.
- Share resources on social media: Run a social media campaign in which you share mental health tips, stress-relief ideas, and self-care strategies. Use the hashtag #WorldMentalHealthDay.
Additional week-long and day-long October healthcare observances
- National Health Education Week, October 20–24
- National Depression Screening Day, October 9
- World Osteoporosis Day, October 20
- National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, October 25
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