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Time to talk day: 2 February
Time to Talk Day is run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, in partnership with the Co-op. The campaign runs across the UK in collaboration with the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and See Me in Scotland, Inspire and Change Your Mind in Northern Ireland and Time to Change Wales.
The aim of the day is to create supportive communities by having conversations with family, friends, or colleagues about mental health. One in four people will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Talking about mental health reduces stigma, empowering those who need it to seek help.
Pharmacy teams can advertise the day in the pharmacy using the online resources available.
World Cancer Day: 4 February
Held annually on 4 February since 2000, World Cancer Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of all types of cancer and encourage prevention, detection and treatment. The day is led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration, which was written in 2008.
From 2022-24, the organisation is running a three-year campaign entitled ‘Close the Care Gap’. During 2022, the focus was on realising the problem – understanding and recognising the inequities in cancer care around the globe. For 2023, the focus is on uniting our voices and taking action. The idea is to celebrate real-world progress and allow that momentum to fuel the campaign for fair treatment.
The UICC recommends that people get involved in many different ways, such as motivating neighbours to provide transport to cancer treatment or ensuring that healthy, affordable food options are offered at local schools. The organisation is also inviting people to raise awareness by taking on a 21 Day Challenge. You can choose to sign up to one of three challenges and receive an email every morning with a lesson, an inspiring prompt or a new activity to engage in.
Pharmacy teams can advertise World Cancer Day using resources available. Fundraising activities can also be registered on the website.
Children's Mental Health Week: 6-12 February
Now in its ninth year, Children’s Mental Health Week 2023, run by the charity Place2Be, is aiming to encourage more people than ever to get involved, spread the word and raise vital funds for children’s mental health support.
This year, the theme is ‘Let’s Connect’, focusing on making meaningful connections for all. When we have healthy connections – to family, friends and others – this can support our mental health and our sense of wellbeing. When our need for rewarding social connections is not met, we can sometimes feel isolated and lonely – which can have a negative impact on our mental health.
Donations go a long way in helping maintain children’s mental health services. For example:
- £7 could help a vulnerable child access support
- £27 could help run a drop-in session with a counsellor
- £54 could support a child to have a one-to-one counselling session in school.
Pharmacy teams can get involved by advertising the campaign in store. Alternatively, you can use the charity’s free fundraising pack for ideas on how to raise money and awareness throughout February and beyond.
International Epilepsy Day: 13 February
Every year, the second Monday in February marks International Epilepsy Day, a global effort to increase awareness of this debilitating condition. The occasion provides a platform for sufferers to share their experiences as well as an opportunity for everyone to advocate for appropriate legislation, encouraging those living with epilepsy to do so to their fullest potential.
Some 65 million people around the world have the condition, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. However, four out of 10 people in the industrialised world and eight out of 10 in the developing nations do not receive appropriate treatment.
This year, individuals are asked to use the hashtags #EpilepsyDay and #IED23 on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to make their voices heard. This can be done via:
- Sharing a photo holding an International Epilepsy Day sign
- Using the Epilepsy Day badge on social media profiles
- Sharing why epilepsy is more than just seizures
- Change header photos on social media accounts
- Create an epilepsy awareness video
- Share ‘Seizure First Aid’ posters
Visit the International Epilepsy Day website for details.
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