Mental Health Awareness Events Calendar

• Mental Wellness Month – Promoting self-care and mental well-being.
• National Mentoring Month
• STARR New Year Kickoff – A virtual event outlining our goals for the year and opportunities to get involved.

Fueling the Future February: a national month of action dedicated to advancing mental health research. Starting this February, then continuing every February after, we’ll unite industry professionals, advocates, and communities across the country to shine a light on the urgent need for continued innovation and research. Join us and help fuel the future by taking concrete steps to ensure that mental health research is recognized as a vital pathway to recovery and hope.

• National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (Last Week of February) – Raising awareness about eating disorders and treatment options.
• STARR Fueling the Future February Webinar – A panel discussion via Zoom

BrainHealth Week – Think About How You Think!
February 23 – February 28, 2026

• Criminal Justice Month
• Brain Injury Awareness Month
• World Teen Mental Wellness Day – March 2, 2026
• Brain Awareness Week – March 16-22, 2026 – Highlighting the importance of brain research in mental health.
• World Panic Day  – March 15,  2026
• World Bipolar Day – March 30, 2026

• National Volunteer Month
• Stress Awareness Month – Educating on stress management and mental resilience.
• National Minority Health Month
• STARR Community Roundtable – Bringing together advocates, researchers, and community members to discuss mental health challenges and solutions.

Every April, the American Heart Assoc promotes Move More Month to encourage people to take part in more physical activity on a more regular basis, incorporating it in to your daily routines.

Patient Experience Week 2026 takes place from April 27th to May 1st – The purpose of Patient Experience Week is to recognize the importance of patient experience and the individuals who contribute to it, and to provide a focused time for healthcare organizations to celebrate accomplishments, re-energize, and inspire continuous improvement

Mental Health Awareness Month

Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week:  TD Awareness Week is the first full week of May, which this year is May 4-10, 2026.

May 7, 2026 – National Brain Donation Awareness Day

May 20, 2026: International Clinical Trials Day

May 24th every year: World Schizophrenia Awareness Day

The 2026 ASCP Annual Meeting will be held May 26-29, 2026 at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel in Miami, Florida. The theme is ‘Psychiatry and AI: Promises, Perils, and Pathways Forward’,  The Late-Breaking Posters submission deadline is March 13, 2026. More info on 2026 ASCP Annual Meeting here.

Nat’l PTSD Awareness Month

June 27th: National PTSD Screening & Awareness Day

Pride Month

NAMICon 2026: Held in-person from May 27-30, 2026.

BIO 2026: June 22-25, 2026, San Diego Convention Center

BIPOC Mental Health Month Also known as National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

Disability Pride Month

• National Wellness Month – Encouraging a holistic approach to mental and physical health.
• Overdose Awareness Day – August 31, 2026
• STARR Research Partner Connect – Networking event for research sites and industry partners.
• Immunization Awareness Month

Back to School events

• National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month – Spreading hope and vital resources for suicide prevention.
• National Recovery Month – Promoting treatment and recovery practices and celebrating the recovery community and the dedication of service providers who make recovery possible.
• National Suicide Prevention Week – September 6-12, 2026
• World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10th) – Global awareness day to support those affected by suicide.
• National Day of Encouragement – September 12, 2026
• World Alzheimer’s Day & World Gratitude Day – September 21, 2026

• STARR 988 Suicide Prevention Workshops – Training sessions for STARR 988 suicide prevention program.

• International Day of Non-Violence – October 2, 2026
• National Do Something Nice Day – October 5, 2026
• Mental Health America 2026 Conference, will be held October 8-9, 2026.
• World Mental Health Day & World Homeless Day (October 10th) – Advocating for mental health as a universal human right.
• National Mentoring Day – October 27, 2026
• National Depression Awareness Month
• Mental Health Screening Month – Promoting the importance of mental health screenings.
• National Disability Employment Awareness Month
• STARR Research Collaboration Forum

*Start planning for Holiday giving (collect donations, volunteer, etc.)

• National Family Caregivers Month / Caregivers Appreciation Month – Honoring those who support loved ones with mental health conditions.
• National Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Awareness & Appreciation Month — MSL Awareness is important because it helps to ensure that healthcare providers have the information they need to provide the best possible care to their patients. MSLs also play an important role in advancing medical science by providing feedback to pharmaceutical companies and other healthcare organizations about the needs of healthcare providers and their patients.
• Inspirational Role Models Month – offers an opportunity to spotlight those role models who embody the qualities and character for lifelong success. No matter your age, gender, or stage of life, having someone who inspires you to be the best version of yourself is always a positive thing.
• National Gratitude Month in November encourages us to embrace the power of gratitude.
• World Kindness Day – November 13, 2026
• National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week – November 14-22, 2026
• STARR Gratitude Gathering

February 20, 2026, is National Caregivers Day. We appreciate and honor all who care and advocate for loved one’s living with a mental health diagnosis. Today, we celebrate the effort that YOU put in every single day to be a voice to those you care for. Whether you are a family member, a professional provider, or a friend, the work that you do truly has an impact and extends compassion and hope to those around you.

STARR Awards Celebration!

• Seasonal Affective Disorder Awareness Month – Bringing attention to the impact of seasonal depression.
• International Volunteer Day – December 5, 2026
• Look On the Bright Side Day – December 21, 2026