Happy October.
Dates for Your Diary…
📆 UK National & International Awareness Days – October 2026
1st October – International Day of Older Persons
1st October – World Vegetarian Day
2nd October – International Day of Non-Violence
4th October – World Animal Day
5th October – World Teachers’ Day
7th October – World Smile Day
8th October – World Octopus Day
9th October – World Post Day
10th October – World Mental Health Day
10th October – Homeless Day (UK)
11th October – International Day of the Girl Child
12th October – World Arthritis Day
13th October – World Thrombosis Day
14th October – World Standards Day
15th October – Global Handwashing Day
15th October – White Cane Safety Day
16th October – World Food Day
16th October – Restart a Heart Day (UK)
17th October – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
18th October – Anti-Slavery Day (UK)
20th October – World Osteoporosis Day
21st October – Apple Day (UK)
22nd October – International Stammering Awareness Day
24th October – United Nations Day
24th October – World Polio Day
26th October – National Pumpkin Day (UK)
27th October – National Mentoring Day (UK)
29th October – World Stroke Day
30th October – National Black Cat Day (UK)
31st October – Halloween
31st October – World Cities Day
📆 UK Awareness Weeks – October 2026
1st–31st October – Stoptober (UK campaign to stop smoking)
1st–31st October – Go Sober for October / Sober October (Macmillan Cancer Support)
1st–7th October – National Dyslexia Awareness Week (UK)
2nd–6th October – National Work Life Week (UK – Working Families charity)
9th–15th October – Baby Loss Awareness Week (UK)
16th–22nd October – National Adoption Week (UK)
16th–22nd October – International Infection Prevention Week
23rd–29th October – National Care Leavers’ Week (UK)
🩺 UK Health Campaigns & Month-Long Observances – October 2026
Breast Cancer Awareness Month (Breast Cancer Now)
Black History Month (UK – celebrating Black heritage, history, and culture)
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
National Cholesterol Month (UK – HEART UK)
Lupus Awareness Month (UK)
Raynaud’s & Scleroderma Awareness Month (UK)
Spina Bifida Awareness Month
Awareness days and themed campaigns can offer a useful opportunity for therapists in private practice to increase visibility and connect with the conversations already happening around health, mental health, identity, relationships and wellbeing.
You do not need to post about every awareness day. In fact, you probably shouldn’t. The most useful approach is to choose the dates that genuinely connect with your work, your values, your client group, or the conversations you are already having in your practice.
Sharing thoughtful, relevant content around these dates can help potential clients understand what you do, how you think, and how you may be able to help. It can also give you a simple structure for planning blogs, newsletters, social posts or community content without having to start from a blank page every week.
Members can download the July Awareness Days planner and tips for incorporating these dates into your marketing strategy below.
You can also join us in the community here: