At a Glance
- Highlighting monthly health observances allows healthcare providers and medical practices to meaningfully engage patients and raise awareness about specific health issues
- May offers various marketing opportunities to engage your patients:
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Mental Health Month
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National Nurses Day, Week, and Month
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World Asthma Day
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World MS Day
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April showers bring May flowers — and a fresh batch of opportunities to strengthen patient ties and do some community outreach. Whether you choose to plan marketing events for monthlong observances like Mental Health Awareness Month or your jampacked schedule only allows for daily observances like World Asthma Day, you and your team have plenty of options.
May 2024 monthlong observances
Learn about monthlong May observances to mark on your calendar.
Mental Health Awareness Month
By the numbers, the statistics on mental health are startling, to say the least.
- 20% of adults in America have a diagnosable mental health condition.
- 50% of mental illness cases begin by age 14, and 75% start by age 24
- Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among kids aged 10-14 and the 3rd leading cause of death among people between the ages of 15-24.
Each May, however, both small and large medical practices can use the opportunity to raise awareness, educate their communities about mental illnesses, reduce stigma, and advocate for policies that support individuals with mental health conditions.
Marketing ideas:
- Distribute and encourage your staff to wear a mental health awareness ribbon (green) for the month of May. You could also distribute ribbons to your patients.
- Partner with mental health professionals in your area to host virtual workshops or webinars focusing on stress management, mindfulness, self-care techniques, and coping strategies.
- Launch a social media campaign featuring photos and personal stories of resilience and recovery.
- Collaborate with mental health professionals to offer free counseling sessions or online support groups.
- Share informative infographics or videos debunking common myths about mental health across social media platforms, blogs, and newsletters. Visit Mental Health America for a toolkit.
National Nurses Month
To honor the more than 5 million registered nurses in the US, National Nurses Month is celebrated in May. Those planning marketing activities and events should also note that National Nurses Week 2024 begins on National Nurses Day — which is May 6 — and ends on May 12, which incidentally is the birthday of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale.
The 2024 theme for National Nurses Week is “Nurses Make the Difference.”
Marketing ideas:
- Host a team breakfast (or lunch) to recognize the dedication and hard work of the nurses in your office or organization.
- Offer discounts or special promotions on healthcare products and services exclusively for nurses.
- Share inspiring stories of nurses making a difference in their communities on social media platforms, blogs, and newsletters.
- Encourage patients to weigh in with their support. Roll out a bulletin board where they can add notes of appreciation to the nurses.
- Partner with local businesses to provide gift baskets or care packages for nurses working on the frontlines.
Additional monthlong observations to note:
- Arthritis Awareness Month
- Better Sleep Month
- High Blood Pressure Awareness Month
- Lyme Disease Awareness Month
- Maternal Mental Health Month
- National Stroke Awareness Month
- National Women’s Health Month
May 2024 days to note and weeks to calendar
Here are some week-long healthcare observances and special days you can also note on your marketing calendar.
World Asthma Day
According to the World Health Organization, asthma affects an estimated 262 million people and may be responsible for as many as 455,000 deaths. To get the word out, the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) started World Asthma Day — an observance that aims to raise asthma awareness, improve asthma care, and support the millions affected by the condition.
The 2024 theme for World Asthma Day is “Asthma Education Empowers.”
Marketing ideas:
- Distribute and encourage your staff to wear an asthma awareness ribbon (gray) for the month of May. You could also distribute ribbons to your patients.
- Offer free asthma screenings or pulmonary function tests or partner with local clinics or pharmacies to do so.
- Launch a social media campaign that shares information on asthma triggers, management techniques, and the importance of medication adherence.
- Host virtual workshops or seminars on asthma prevention, recognizing symptoms, and creating asthma action plans.
- Partner with schools or community centers to distribute asthma-friendly resources and promote asthma-friendly environments.
World MS Day
Research shows that Multiple Sclerosis (MS) affects approximately 2.8 million people worldwide. To help raise awareness, the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) established World MS Day to mobilize support for those living with the condition and advocate for better access to treatment and care.
The 2024-2025 theme for World MS Day is “diagnosis.”
Marketing ideas:
- Organize (or arrange for your staff and patients to participate in) virtual fundraising events, such as online auctions or charity walks, to support MS research and advocacy efforts.
- Share educational resources about MS symptoms, treatment options, and lifestyle management tips across social media platforms, blogs, and newsletters. Visit World MS Day for a toolkit.
- Encourage patients and staff members to share their MS stories on social media using designated hashtags (#MSAwareness, #MSactivist, #MS, #MSresearch) to amplify awareness.
- Partner with other healthcare professionals or specialists to host virtual Q&A sessions addressing common questions about MS.
Additional observance days to note:
- World Ovarian Cancer Day May 8
- World Hypertension Day, May 17
- World Schizophrenia Day, May 24
April 2024 healthcare observances and marketing ideas
Here are some monthlong April observances to have on your radar.
April 2024 monthlong observances
- National Minority Health Month
- Autism Awareness Month
- March for Babies
- Stress Awareness Month
- Parkinson’s Awareness Month
- Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM)
- Testicular Cancer Awareness Month
April 2024 days to note and weeks to calendar
- World Health Day
- World Autism Awareness Day, April 2
- World Parkinson’s Day, April 11
- National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, April 27
- Black Maternal Health Week, April 11-17
- National Infertility Awareness Week, April 21 - 27
- National Youth Violence Prevention Week, April 22-26
- Patient Experience Week, April 29-May 3
March 2024 healthcare observances and marketing ideas
Discover which March events to have on your radar for your patients and communities.
March 2024 month-long observances
- National Kidney Month
- Brain Injury Awareness Month
- National Nutrition Month
- National Endometriosis Awareness Month
- National MS Education and Awareness Month
- National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Tebra can help you pre-plan and easily create and edit website content.
March days to note and weeks to calendar
Learn about week-long observances and individual days to promote and boost patient health.
- World Birth Defects Day, March 3
- Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 10-16, 2024
- National Sleep Awareness Week, March 10-16
- World Sleep Day, Friday, March 15
- National Poison Prevention Week, March 17-23
- World Tuberculosis Day, March 24
February 2024 healthcare observances and marketing ideas
A well-thought-out calendar can help align practice marketing efforts and engage with patients and the broader community. Here’s a list of healthcare marketing ideas for February.
February 2024 month-long observances
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month (AMD Awareness Month)
- American Heart Month
- International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month
- National Cancer Prevention Month
- National Self-Check Month
February 2024 days to note and weeks to calendar
- Cardiovascular Professionals Week, February 11-17
- Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care Staff Education Week, February 14-21
- National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, February 26-March 1
- National Wear Red Day (Heart Disease Awareness), February 3
- World Cancer Day, February 4
- National Donor Day, February 14
- National Caregivers Day, February 16
- Rare Disease Day, February 29
“Integrate seasonal campaigns to achieve better patient outcomes and make a meaningful difference in your community. ”
January 2024 healthcare observances
To help you tailor your marketing strategy, here are a few key January observances to note on your annual marketing calendar.
January 2024 month-long observances
- Glaucoma Awareness Month
- National Birth Defects Prevention Month
- Cervical Cancer Screening Month
- National Blood Donor Month
- Thyroid Awareness Month
January 2024 days to note and weeks to calendar
- Diet Resolution Week, January 1 to 7
- National Take the Stairs Day, January 10
- Maternal Health Awareness Day, January 23
- World Leprosy Day, January 28
Maternal Health Awareness Day
On the calendar for January 23, Maternal Health Awareness Day is an observation that focuses on the health and well-being of mothers during and after pregnancy.
“Providers can empower individuals to prioritize their health and wellbeing by aligning healthcare services with the needs of the community during these awareness months. ”
To raise awareness with thoughtful marketing, healthcare providers can:
- Host prenatal workshops providing expectant mothers information on prenatal care, nutrition, and mental health.
- Host postpartum support groups or virtual sessions for new mothers, addressing postpartum challenges and mental health.
- Offer maternity package promotions with discounts for prenatal and postpartum care.
- Plan newsletter and social media content on postpartum depression and maternal health.
Show your patients they are on your mind
By embracing these observances, medical practices can lean into thoughtful marketing strategies to show patients they care and amplify their community impact. Social media campaigns, a targeted email strategy, website content, and community outreach events are great ways to help disseminate valuable information and foster a culture of proactive health care and management. Moreover, by aligning healthcare services with the needs of the community during these awareness months, providers can empower individuals to prioritize their health and well-being throughout the year.
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