October is traditionally a busy month for health care observances. Breast Cancer Awareness, Intimate Partner Violence Awareness, and Let’s Talk month —which encourages open and honest conversations about sex — all fall in October:
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Covid-19 may bring concerns about visiting a doctor’s office. But it’s important to continue to pay attention to what’s normal for your breasts. If you notice any changes in how your breasts look or feel, schedule an in-person appointment for a breast exam with your doctor or a Planned Parenthood clinician.
Regular breast cancer screenings are essential for staying healthy, especially for Black and Hispanic women who face more systemic barriers to getting care, and are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages when cancer is less treatable. Breast cancer is the 2nd most lethal cancer (after lung cancer), and early detection is very important. Learn more here.
Intimate Partner Violence Awareness Month
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a pattern of abusive behavior within a relationship that can include emotional abuse, control, threats of harm, and physical violence. About one in four women and one in nine men experience IPV in the form of physical violence, sexual violence, and/or stalking.
Domestic violence doesn’t discriminate. People of any age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, race, religion, education level, or economic status can be a victim — or perpetrator — of domestic violence. IPV includes behaviors that physically harm, intimidate, manipulate, or control a partner, or otherwise force them to behave in ways they don’t want to, including through physical violence, threats, emotional abuse, or financial control. Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest health center staff ask every patient about their relationships and if they feel safe within them. If you are feeling unsafe in your relationship, you can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Let’s Talk Month
Let’s Talk Month encourages open and healthy conversations between kids and their parents about sex, bodies, and relationships. Young people deserve age-appropriate, medically-accurate information about sex and relationships, without being shamed or judged. Here’s the hard truth: Discussions about sex are uncomfortable because we are uncomfortable with sexuality. Our culture constantly gives us conflicting messages like: Sex is dirty and bad…but save it for someone you love!
We owe it to our kids to break the cycle of discomfort around sexuality. They will have happier, healthier attitudes about sex if we can take a deep breath and remember that talking openly and honestly about sex is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. As the nation’s largest provider of sex education, Planned Parenthood wants to make these conversations as easy and comfortable as possible — especially as we are all navigating through COVID-19.
National Bullying Prevention Month
Lastly, October is also National Bullying Prevention Month. It’s always important to talk about the dangers of bullying and the trauma it can bring to its victims. Bullying can leave lasting negative effects on those who experience it, including depression, increased risk of suicidal thoughts, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, poor health outcomes, self-harm, substance abuse, and difficulty establishing trusting friendships and relationships.
By speaking out and spreading kindness, you’ll make school settings, workplaces, and other environments safer and happier places. A few tips for helping kids with this issue:
- Practice what you preach. Children imitate what they see, so be a good role model for the little ones around you.
- Talk to your kids. Ask them about experiences at school, and make sure they feel comfortable and know they can always come to you if something happens.
- Be aware of what your child does online. Right now, cyberbullying is the fastest-growing type of harassment among young people.
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