May 16, 2019 – During May, Governor Roy Cooper issued proclamations for numerous awareness efforts and causes the NC Department of Health and Human Services is involved in with the support of partners throughout the state. Those include:
Mental Health Awareness Month
Governor Cooper recognized the work of DHHS, NAMI NC and state partners who work to improve the lives of those with living with mental health illness by proclaiming May as Mental Health Awareness Month.
Children's Mental Health Awareness Week and Children's Mental Health Awareness Day 2019
DHHS and its Division of Mental Health and partners have prioritized addressing the whole health of North Carolinians, including the complex mental health needs of children, youth and families. Because of that, May 6 to 12 was recognized as Child Mental Health Awareness Week and May 6 as Child Mental Health Day.
Hearing Loss Awareness Month
Governor Cooper recognized the work of DHHS, its Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and state partners who work to improve the lives of those with hearing loss by proclaiming May as Hearing Loss Awareness Month.
Foster Care Month
More than 11,300 children and youth are in the foster care system in North Carolina, and Foster Care Month is an opportunity to recognize the foster parents, child welfare professionals, kinship caregivers and advocates working to ensure children’s safety, well-being and permanence.
Older Americans Month
Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed May Older Americans Month in North Carolina, recognizing older adults and the people who serve them as essential members of our society. The proclamation also acknowledges DHHS’ Division of Aging and Adult Services for working to promote the independence and enhance the dignity of older adults and their families through a community-based system of opportunities, services, benefits and protections.
Stroke Prevention Awareness Month
May is Stroke Prevention Awareness Month. Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability and the fourth leading cause of death in North Carolina. The state encourages all people to increase physical activity, eat healthy food, quit tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, monitor blood pressure, and learn about other lifesaving steps everyone can take to help prevent stroke.
Hepatitis Awareness Month and Hepatitis Testing Day
Chronic viral hepatitis affects more than 230,000 people in North Carolina, and because many more may have hepatitis but do not realize they are infected until they have symptoms, Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed May as Hepatitis Awareness Month, and May 19 as Hepatitis Testing Day. During Hepatitis Awareness Month, DHHS encourages residents to learn the risks of the liver disease and get tested for hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
Emergency Medical Services Week
Emergency medical services teams are ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week, responding to 1.8 million emergency calls in North Carolina in 2018. The state recognizes the value and the accomplishments of emergency medical services providers during Emergency Medical Services Week, which is May 19-25.
Hand Hygiene Day
NCDHHS and partners in the public and private sectors, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are working to enhance public and health care provider awareness and engagement regarding appropriate hand hygiene practices through sponsorship of World Hand Hygiene Day, held on May 5.