April is sexual assault awareness month. Sexual Assault Awareness Month calls attention to the fact that sexual violence is widespread and impacts every person in the community. SAAM aims to raise public awareness about sexual violence and educate communities on how to prevent it. Here at TWMC, we are in a prime position to screen our patients and advocate for them if they are victims of sexual assault.
April is also Autism Acceptance Month. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex, lifelong developmental condition that typically appears during early childhood and can impact a person’s social skills, communication, relationships, and self-regulation. The Autism experience is different for everyone. It is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is often referred to as a “spectrum condition” that affects people differently and to varying degrees. This month reminds us to be inclusive and aware of others and to learn from our differences.
Interestingly, April is Stress Awareness Month. We all experience stress in different ways and at different levels. Learning to cope with our stress and finding healthy ways to deal with these situations can go a long way in living a healthy and positive life.
Staying on promoting mental health, April is also Counseling Awareness Month, which provides an opportunity to celebrate the both the counseling profession and individuals who do this important work. Professional counselors help people gain personal insights, develop strategies and come up with real-life solutions to the problems and challenges they face in every area of life.
April is Arab American Heritage Month celebrates the rich and diverse culture and contributions of the diverse population of Arab Americans. An estimated 3.7 million Americans have Arab roots, according to the Arab American Institute, with ancestries traced to 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Palestine, Morocco, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Bahrain, Tunisia, Algeria, Sudan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and others.
Lastly, April is Sexually Transmitted Infection Awareness Month, with the week recognized being April 13-19 this year. This is an extremely relevant topic for us here, as we offer testing and treatment for several STIs, and we promote prevention awareness and education. ANYONE who is sexually active in any way is at risk for getting an STI, so it is very important to protect yourself and get tested!
