National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed each year from September 15 to October 15 to celebrate the achievements, histories, traditions, and cultural diversity of Hispanic/Latino Americans.
Although Hispanic/Latino Americans tend to live an average of 1.3 years longer than non-Hispanic whites, they are generally in poorer health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2022 approximately 16 percent of Hispanics were in fair or poor health, compared to 13.5 percent of white Americans.
Hispanic health is shaped by several factors, including language and cultural barriers, lack of access to preventive care, and lack of health insurance. People who lack access to quality health care are less likely to receive preventative care and more likely to have chronic health conditions and die prematurely.
Throughout the month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) will focus on advancing Better Health Through Better Understanding for Hispanic/Latino individuals by providing them with culturally and linguistically competent health care services, information, and resources.
Visit the OMH Hispanic Heritage Month website, available in English and Spanish, for more information, health resources, shareable graphics, social media messaging, virtual backgrounds, and downloadable templates.
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September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, a time to promote awareness and education about the disease, reduce misinformation and stigmatization associated with the condition, and draw attention to the ongoing need for research, better patient care, new treatments, and widely available cures.
Sickle cell disease is the most common inherited blood disorder in the U.S., affecting an estimated 100,000 Americans, many of whom are African American. This disease gets its name from the abnormal crescent or “sickle” shape that some red blood cells develop. Because of this shape and other abnormalities, sickled red blood can block blood flow through the body and cause recurring episodes of pain.
Over the years, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has funded and supported research that has helped make important discoveries possible. As a result, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved four new drugs to treat the disease in 2017. Additionally, through its Cure Sickle Cell Initiative, researchers and clinicians are advancing promising genetic therapies to cure sickle cell disease through clinical trials.
Visit the NHLBI National Sickle Cell Awareness Month website for more information, handouts, graphics, and social media resources, to help raise awareness about sickle cell disease. Also, be sure to check out the OMH Knowledge Center's 2023 Sickle Cell Disease Reading List, featuring consumer materials, reports, and research articles.
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National Preparedness Month is an observance held in September and led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Ready Campaign. It aims to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time.
Last month, HHS declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) for the state of Hawai’i to address the health impacts of the wildfires. This natural disaster resulted in the displacement of thousands of Native Hawaiians.
Following the declaration of the PHE, the HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response deployed disaster response personnel from the National Disaster Medical System to Hawai’i. Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has been working closely with Hawai’i to ensure that those affected by the wildfires receive appropriate care.
While support for Hawai’i is ongoing, we encourage everyone to visit Ready.gov to learn how to better prepare for disasters and emergencies. Start by making a plan with your family and downloading the FEMA App, to get preparedness strategies, and real-time weather and emergency alerts. Also, be sure to check out the OMH Minority Health Social Vulnerability Index tool to identify minority communities that may need support before, during, and after disasters.
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Every September, National Recovery Month works to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the nation’s strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery possible.
This year’s theme, Hope is Real, Recovery is Real, aims to increase public awareness surrounding mental health and addiction recovery.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the percentage of people who needed substance use treatment in the past year was higher among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) (28.7 percent) or Multiracial people (25.5 percent) compared with Black/African American (16.4 percent), white (15.9 percent), Hispanic/Latino (15 percent), or Asian (7.7 percent) people. The study also showed that approximately 9.2 million adults have both a mental illness and a substance abuse disorder, referred to as co-occurring disorders.
If you or someone you know struggles with a substance use disorder, visit FindTreatment.gov or call the SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). The helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish).
To kick off the observance, sign up for SAMHSA’s Walk for Recovery on September 7, at 2:30 p.m. ET, in Washington, D.C., and be sure to visit SAMHSA’s National Recovery Month website to find more upcoming events, resources, and downloadable materials.
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October is Health Literacy Month, a time for health organizations, literacy programs, libraries, social service agencies, businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and other groups to work together to integrate and expand the mission of health literacy.
Healthy People 2030 defines health literacy as the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.
According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 88 percent of U.S. adults do not have the health literacy skills needed to manage all the demands of the current health care system and only 36 percent have limited health literacy.
Furthermore, the National Center for Education Statistics reports that Black, Hispanic, AI/AN, or Multiracial adult populations in the U.S. have lower proficient health literacy levels compared to their white and Asian/Pacific Islander counterparts.
This has a significant impact on personal health and health care resources. Promoting health literacy can improve health outcomes, health care safety, and quality while reducing health disparities and health care costs.
During Health Literacy Month, OMH remains committed to advancing Better Health Through Better Understanding for racial and ethnic minorities by providing culturally and linguistically competent health care services, information, and resources.
Spread the word about health literacy by taking a look at all the resources HHS agencies have to offer. And be sure to check out the OMH Think Cultural Health website for more information on how to provide effective communication that considers the cultural, health literacy levels, and language needs of the populations you work with.
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October 15 is National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day, an annual observance organized by the Latino Commission on AIDS and the Hispanic Federation.
This annual observance raises awareness about the impact of HIV on the Hispanic/Latino communities in the U.S. and addresses concerns about the widening, yet largely unrecognized, HIV infection disparities among these populations.
HIV disproportionately affects Hispanic/Latino communities. In 2021, the CDC estimated that of the 36,136 new infections in the U.S. and territories, 33 percent were among Hispanics/Latinos.
For some Hispanic/Latino people, social and structural issues such as xenophobia, language barriers, poverty, mistrust of the health care system, and limited access to high-quality health care affect their access to HIV prevention and treatment and continue to drive inequities. Addressing social and structural barriers and encouraging safe and supportive communities can help improve health outcomes for Hispanic/Latino people.
To learn more about how HIV is affecting the Hispanic/Latino community, visit our Minority Population Profile or explore HIV.gov's website for additional resources, graphics, tools, and more. Remember, the only way to know your HIV status is by getting tested. Use the CDC’s GetTested search tool to find free, fast, and confidential HIV testing near you.
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As we approach National Hispanic Heritage Month, the OMH Knowledge Center is sharing a collection of documents and journal articles related to the access, delivery, and utilization of health care in the Hispanic community. The collection includes recent research about cancer care, HIV prevention, mental health services, immigrant care needs, improving health equity through culturally and linguistically accessible services, and more. Many of these resources are available for free.
This collection is available for free through the online catalog.
Looking for more information on a topic included in this collection? View our search tips page for guidance on searching the online catalog, or contact the OMH Knowledge Center directly for research assistance.
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