May 2018

In this issue:

• Asian American and Pacific Islander Month 2018
• Hepatitis Awareness Month
• National Women’s Health Week – May 13-19, 2018
• Older Americans Month
• National Stroke Awareness Month
• Healthy Vision Month
• The OMHRC Knowledge Center

Asian American and Pacific Islander Month 2018

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month - a celebration for Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. This month, the Office of Minority Health (OMH) will take a closer look at the health disparities that affect Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and share tools and resources to build awareness about improving health outcomes. Visit the Office of Minority of Health AAPI Heritage Month web page to learn more.

Hepatitis Awareness Month

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month. Join the Office of Minority Health (OMH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to raise awareness about and how to prevent the different types of viral hepatitis. The most common types of viral hepatitis in the United States are hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Each have differing effects on the liver, routes of transmission, and different populations that are most commonly affected.

Learn more about viral hepatitis by taking the CDC’s five minute Hepatitis Risk Assessment. The assessment will help you find out if you should get tested or vaccinated for viral hepatitis. 

National Women’s Health Week – May 13-19, 2018

May 13 - 19 is National Women’s Health Week (NWHW). NWHW is led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Women’s Health and the goal during the week is to keep women motivated in making their health a priority.

As part of the observance, OWH reminds women to:

• Visit a doctor or nurse for a well-woman visit (checkup) and preventive screenings.
• Get active.
• Eat healthy.
• Pay attention to their mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress.
• Avoid unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, texting while driving, and not wearing a seatbelt or bicycle helmet.

Visit the Office of Women’s Health web page to learn more about NWHW and activities to participate in to take steps toward a healthier life. 

Older Americans Month

May is Older Americans Month (OAM) and this year’s theme, Engage at Every Age, puts emphasis on the message that you are never too old (or too young) to take part in activities that benefit you physically, mentally and emotionally. According to the Administration for Community Living, the older population is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse as the overall minority population in the U.S. grows. OAM celebrates the many ways in which older adults make a difference in our communities. Visit the Older Americans Month site for more information about activities, materials and resources.

National Stroke Awareness Month

More than 795,000 Americans suffer a stroke each year, and stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. Stroke also causes more long-term disabilities than any other disease. During National Stroke Awareness Month, the NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and their partners will make efforts to build awareness about stroke, symptoms of stroke and how to recognize them, stroke prevention methods and how to act fast when a loved one is experiencing a stroke. Visit the NINDS Know Stroke web page to learn more about the disease and what you can do to create awareness.

Healthy Vision Month

May is Healthy Vision Month, a time to raise awareness about eye health and strategies to help prevent vision loss and blindness. Every Healthy Vision Month, the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health shares tips and resources to encourage people to take care of their vision — and inspire health professionals to help make eye health a priority. Please visit the Healthy Vision Month observance site where you will find tips and tools to help you make healthy vision choices and keep vision health the focus for the month.

The OMHRC Knowledge Center

The Office of Minority Health Resource Center Knowledge Center has developed an extensive collection of documents specifically related to minority populations and behavioral health. Click here to gain access to the Knowledge Center’s Online Catalog.