There are many health observances, but are they making an impact?

Health observances fill our calendars year-round—each one designed to raise awareness, spark conversation, and inspire action. But with so many competing for attention, it’s worth asking: are they truly making an impact in our communities, or simply becoming background noise? To explore this question, we turned inward, inviting members of our own team to share which health observances resonate most with them and why. Through their perspectives, we begin to understand whether these moments of recognition are breaking through—and what meaningful impact can really look like on a more personal, human level.

Written by Brian Christina:

National Pet Therapy Day — April 30
National Pet Therapy Day is a great reminder that healing isn’t only about clinical care; it’s also about comfort, connection, and those small moments that help our nervous system reset. Hospitals and health systems use certified therapy animals to support patients, visitors, and staff, and pet therapy has been shown to improve physical and emotional well-being by reducing stress and helping create a more supportive healing environment.

At Mass General, for example, staff have been invited to take a few minutes for “rest, relaxation, sunshine and snuggles” with pet therapy dogs; exactly the kind of simple pause that can make a hard day feel more manageable. On a personal level, this observance hits home for me. With eight pets, I know firsthand how animals can steady my mood, pull me into the present, and make self-care feel less like a task and more like a lived experience.

World Music Day — June 21
World Music Day is a perfect excuse to talk about music as a daily dose of wellness; something that supports mental health in a way that’s accessible, personal, and easy to build into routines. In a Mass General Brigham Health Plan wellness resource, listening to music is linked with creativity, problem-solving, and a positive mood, with potential benefits for memory function. For some people, even having music in the background can help with memory capacity. Music is often woven into daily routines as a simple but powerful form of self care. It can help people unwind, reset, or reenergize, depending on what the moment calls for. With such a wide range of styles and eras to choose from (like my personal favorite, ’70s music), it’s easy to see how the right song can lift a mood, sharpen focus, or bring a sense of calm and familiarity.

Written by Liz Ganem:

Thyroid Cancer Awareness Day, May 25th

Thyroid Cancer Awareness Day feels like more than just a date to me, it’s personal. Growing up, I saw firsthand how something like this can affect a family. It’s not just about one person’s diagnosis, it touches everyone in different ways, from the worry and uncertainty to the way daily life quietly shifts around it. Because of that, I think about how easy it is to overlook the small signals our bodies give us, especially when life gets busy. I’ve seen how important it is to pay attention and not brush things off or assume it’s nothing.

I’ve come to realize how much it matters to listen to our bodies and to speak up when something doesn’t feel right. Even something small, like a lump in the neck or ongoing hoarseness, can be easy to ignore, but those are often the things that deserve the most attention. Thyroid cancer is often very treatable, especially when it’s caught early. That’s why awareness matters so much. It’s not about creating fear, but about encouraging people to trust themselves and take action when something feels off.

National Donut Day, First Friday in June

As a New Englander, observing National Donut Day feels almost like a civic duty. As a health plan, it might seem a bit counterintuitive to highlight a day centered around indulgent treats, but I think it offers an important reminder about balance and moderation. Enjoying a donut every now and then doesn’t take away from healthy habits; it complements them by acknowledging that mental well-being and small moments of joy matter just as much as nutrition and exercise.

Participating in National Donut Day isn’t just about treating yourself; it’s also a way to support local bakeries and family-owned donut shops across Massachusetts. That support helps keep money within the community and gives small businesses a meaningful boost.

There’s also something to be said for the experience itself, walking to your favorite neighborhood shop, chatting with the staff, and even waiting in line creates small moments of connection and activity that are easy to overlook. In true New England fashion, it’s a simple tradition that supports both individual well-being and the wider community, one donut at a time.

National ADHD Awareness Month October

This time of year always stands out to me because it brings attention to something that is so often misunderstood or brushed off. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is more than just having trouble focusing; it can shape how someone thinks, feels, and moves through everyday life. I’ve also noticed how more people are being diagnosed later in life (myself included), finally putting words to experiences they may have struggled to understand for years. That realization can be both overwhelming and validating at the same time.

I’ve seen and experienced how frustrating it can be when those struggles aren’t recognized or are mistaken for something else, which is why highlighting ADHD matters so much. The more we talk about it in a real and honest way, the easier it becomes for people to understand themselves or someone they care about, and to feel less alone in it. For me, this month is a reminder that awareness leads to compassion, and that kind of understanding can truly make a difference.

Written by Mike Buttimer:

Alzheimer’s and Brain Health Awareness Month takes place in June and National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month is observed every November. These health awareness months are especially meaningful to me because my grandparents had Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 55 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Additionally, most Americans are at risk for developing dementia due to having at least one major risk factor.

Witnessing the effects that Alzheimer’s and dementia had on our family motivated us to take action. Every year, we participate in the Walk to End ALZ to raise funds for Alzheimer’s research and awareness. This June and November, wear purple and take some time to learn more about Alzheimer’s and dementia! If you have a family history, you can review your risks and preventive care with your primary care provider.

Written by Jackie Ledoux:

Pride Month – June

Pride Month is one of my favorite observances because it’s about visibility, history, support, and joy. Celebrated every June, Pride Month reminds us all how hard the LGBTQ+ community fought to obtain rights, starting with throwing bricks at Stonewall, how far we’ve come, and how our work still isn’t done yet.

According to the Trans Legislation Tracker, there have been 755 anti-trans legislation bills introduced across 42 US states in 2026, alone; a conservative movement called Greater Than is seeking to overturn marriage equality in the United States; and according to the FBI’s 2024 Crime Report, hate crimes prompted by sexual orientation bias were the third most reported type of hate crime.

As an LGBTQ+ person, it’s important to me to celebrate Pride Month whether that means attending a Pride parade, writing about LGBTQ+ history for work, educating others about what gender-affirming care is or isn’t, or letting other LGBTQ+ people know about resources available to them, like Massachusetts General Hospital’s Transgender Health Program.

Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month – May

Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month is important to me for the same reason Pride Month is important to me—it’s personal. Though decades of research by McLean Hospital prove that borderline personality disorder (BPD) is “the most treatable major mental health condition,” BPD remains highly stigmatized.

The stigma surrounding BPD can stop people from getting help, prevent them from accepting their diagnosis, and negatively impact providers’ ability to provide the best care they can for their patients. Media portrayals of BPD are largely exaggerated and paint people with BPD to be manipulative monsters when that’s really not the case. I think personality disorders, in general, are seriously misunderstood, which is why I think Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month is great.

It’s important to destigmatize the disorder and remind everyone else that people with personality disorders are just people, most of whom have dealt with some difficult life circumstances to end up with a personality disorder in the first place (though not always).